---
id: "CVE-2020-11652"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2020-11652"]
title: "SaltStack Salt: SaltStack Salt Path Traversal Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 6.5
epss: 0.86178
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "SaltStack Salt", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "package", "salt-master", "saltstack", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["default-config", "unauthenticated-only-setups"]
published_at: "2020-04-30T17:15:12+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:34+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2020-11652", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2020-11652", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:43+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11652", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:34+00:00"}]
---

# SaltStack Salt: SaltStack Salt Path Traversal Vulnerability

SaltStack Salt's salt-master ClearFuncs component has a path traversal flaw that lets a logged-in user reach directories they should not access. CISA lists it as actively exploited in the wild, and the sources do not say what files an attacker can read or write.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:SaltStack Salt affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

Check the installed salt version on the master with salt --version or salt-master --version and compare it to the fixed release in the advisory.

## Fix

Upgrade the salt-master package to a release that includes the vendor fix for CVE-2020-11652, per the SaltStack advisory.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2020-11652
- 2026-10-23T19:13:43+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2020-11652
- 2026-10-23T21:57:34+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11652

## From the sources

SaltStack Salt contains a path traversal vulnerability in the salt-master process ClearFuncs which allows directory access to authenticated users. Salt users who follow fundamental internet security guidelines and best practices are not affected by this vulnerability.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_