CVE-2020-11977: Shell command injection in Apache Syncope
Summary
CVE-2020-11977: Shell command injection in Apache Syncope. Affects org.apache.syncope:syncope versions >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.7. Fixed in 2.1.7. How to fix ↓
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Background
Apache Syncope is an open-source identity management and access control system. It provides a comprehensive set of features for managing user identities, roles, and permissions. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11977 affects Apache Syncope versions 2.1.X prior to 2.1.7 when the Flowable extension is enabled. This vulnerability allows an administrator with workflow entitlements to execute malicious shell commands, potentially leading to unauthorized file read, file write, and code execution.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of Shell Service Tasks in the Flowable extension of Apache Syncope. An attacker with workflow entitlements can exploit this vulnerability to inject arbitrary shell commands, which are executed by the system. This can result in various malicious operations, including unauthorized access to sensitive files, modification of critical system files, and execution of arbitrary code. The impact of this vulnerability can be severe, potentially leading to a complete compromise of the affected system.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 4.1.3 as of 23 Oct 2026
Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
2.1.7
This is the first release that contains the fix.
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is essential to apply the official patch or upgrade to a fixed version of Apache Syncope to mitigate the risk.
Conclusion
The Shell command injection vulnerability in Apache Syncope can have severe consequences, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands and potentially compromise the entire system. It is crucial to upgrade to Apache Syncope version 2.1.7 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for org.apache.syncope:syncope →
FAQ
Apache Syncope is an open-source identity management and access control system that provides features for managing user identities, roles, and permissions.
The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands, potentially leading to unauthorized file read, file write, and code execution. This can result in a complete compromise of the affected system.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to Apache Syncope version 2.1.7 or later, which includes a fix for the Shell command injection vulnerability.
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is crucial to apply the official patch or upgrade to a fixed version of Apache Syncope.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the CVE-2020-11977 advisory or contact the Apache Syncope community.
References
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