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TI-2020-12684 Aliases CVE-2020-16125GHSA-pc8h-hq5p-vf38

gdm3 would start gnome-initial-setup if it cannot contact accountservice

Priority LOW 34CWE-754Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Physical
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 3 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

gdm3 versions before 3.36.2 or 3.38.2 would start gnome-initial-setup if gdm3 can't contact the accountservice service via dbus in a timely manner; on Ubuntu (and potentially derivatives) this could be be chained with an additional issue that could allow a local user to create a new privileged account.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.01109 66th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix Partial GDM3 (Gnome): 3.36.4, 3.38.2Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 1 fixed, 3 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
GNOMEGDM33.36 to before 3.36.4; 3.38 to before 3.38.23.36.4, 3.38.2Patch availableCNA
  • GDM3 VendorGNOME Affected 3.36 to before 3.36.4; 3.38 to before 3.38.2 Fixed in 3.36.4, 3.38.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.36.2; 3.38.0 to before 3.38.2VulnerableGNOME
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.36.2; 3.38.0 to before 3.38.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA GDM3 (Gnome) Fixed in 3.36.4, 3.38.2

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2021:1586 Released 2021-05-18 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    GNOME security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) glib2-doc-2.56.4-9.el8, glib2-static-2.56.4-9.el8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) gdm-1:3.28.3-39.el8, webkit2gtk3-2.30.4-1.el8, webkit2gtk3-devel-2.30.4-1.el8 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) glib2-2.56.4-9.el8, glib2-devel-2.56.4-9.el8, glib2-fam-2.56.4-9.el8 +1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2021:1586
Not affected: 4 products
  • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-16125
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pc8h-hq5p-vf38

References

Exploit 2

Advisory 1

  • TI-2018-10342 The daemon in GDM through 3.29.1 does not properly unexport display objects from its… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2015-06234 GNOME Display Manager (gdm) before 3.18.2 allows physically proximate attackers to bypass… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
  • TI-2013-03642 GNOME Display Manager (gdm) before 2.21.1 allows local users to change permissions of… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2019-02837 Improper authentication in Gnome Projectr gdm CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.4
  • TI-2017-08954 A flaw was discovered in gdm 3.24.1 where gdm greeter was no longer setting the ran_once… CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.4
  • TI-2020-16907 Race condition in gdm CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
See all 9 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences