How severe is CVE-2019-15796?

CVE-2019-15796 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.

Is CVE-2019-15796 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (41st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2019-15796?

CVE-2019-15796 primarily affects Ubuntu Python-apt. In total, 66 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2019-15796?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2019-15796 published?

CVE-2019-15796 was published on 2020-03-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2019-15796

CVE-2019-15796 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Ubuntu Python-apt with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-347.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.7)
CVSS v2: 2.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (41st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-347
Affected product: Ubuntu Python-apt
Published: 2020-03-26
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Python-apt doesn't check if hashes are signed in `Version.fetch_binary()` and `Version.fetch_source()` of apt/package.py or in `_fetch_archives()` of apt/cache.py in version 1.9.3ubuntu2 and earlier. This allows downloads from unsigned repositories which shouldn't be allowed and has been fixed in verisions 1.9.5, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm2, and 0.8.3ubuntu7.5.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2019-15796?: Python-apt doesn't check if hashes are signed in `Version.fetch_binary()` and `Version.fetch_source()` of apt/package.py or in `_fetch_archives()` of apt/cache.py in version 1.9.3ubuntu2 and earlier. This allows downloads from unsigned repositories which shouldn't be allowed and has been fixed in verisions 1.9.5, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm2, and 0.8.3ubuntu7.5.
How severe is CVE-2019-15796?: CVE-2019-15796 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2019-15796 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (41st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-15796?: CVE-2019-15796 primarily affects Ubuntu Python-apt. In total, 66 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2019-15796?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2019-15796 published?: CVE-2019-15796 was published on 2020-03-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (66)

cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.0:ubuntu9:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.9.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:build2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.4:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.0.1:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.0.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.0.1:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.4:*:*:*:*:*:*

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