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CVE-2020-13151

CWE-78Published: August 5, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Aerospike Community Edition 4.9.0.5 allows for unauthenticated submission and execution of user-defined functions (UDFs), written in Lua, as part of a database query. It attempts to restrict code execution by disabling os.execute() calls, but this is insufficient. Anyone with network access can use a crafted UDF to execute arbitrary OS commands on all nodes of the cluster at the permission level of the user running the Aerospike service.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-13151 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2020-13151. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorNetwork

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.None

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

aerospike1 product(s)

aerospike server

Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160106/Aerospike-Database-5.1.0.3-Remote-Command-Execution.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160451/Aerospike-Database-UDF-Lua-Code-Execution.html

ADVISORYhttps://b4ny4n.github.io/network-pentest/2020/08/01/cve-2020-13151-poc-aerospike.html

ADVISORYhttps://www.aerospike.com/docs/operations/configure/security/access-control/index.html#create-users-and-assign-roles

ADVISORYhttps://www.aerospike.com/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3

ADVISORYhttps://www.aerospike.com/enterprise/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160106/Aerospike-Database-5.1.0.3-Remote-Command-Execution.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160451/Aerospike-Database-UDF-Lua-Code-Execution.html

ADVISORYhttps://b4ny4n.github.io/network-pentest/2020/08/01/cve-2020-13151-poc-aerospike.html

ADVISORYhttps://www.aerospike.com/docs/operations/configure/security/access-control/index.html#create-users-and-assign-roles

ADVISORYhttps://www.aerospike.com/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3

ADVISORYhttps://www.aerospike.com/enterprise/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3

All References (12)

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160106/Aerospike-Database-5.1.0.3-Remote-Command-Execution.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160451/Aerospike-Database-UDF-Lua-Code-Execution.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

https://b4ny4n.github.io/network-pentest/2020/08/01/cve-2020-13151-poc-aerospike.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory

→

https://www.aerospike.com/docs/operations/configure/security/access-control/index.html#create-users-and-assign-rolesExploit · Vendor Advisory

→

https://www.aerospike.com/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3Release Notes · Vendor Advisory

→

https://www.aerospike.com/enterprise/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3Release Notes · Vendor Advisory

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160106/Aerospike-Database-5.1.0.3-Remote-Command-Execution.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160451/Aerospike-Database-UDF-Lua-Code-Execution.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

https://b4ny4n.github.io/network-pentest/2020/08/01/cve-2020-13151-poc-aerospike.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory

→

https://www.aerospike.com/docs/operations/configure/security/access-control/index.html#create-users-and-assign-rolesExploit · Vendor Advisory

→

https://www.aerospike.com/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3Release Notes · Vendor Advisory

→

https://www.aerospike.com/enterprise/download/server/notes.html#5.1.0.3Release Notes · Vendor Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2020-13151

CVSS Score9.8 / 10

SeverityCRITICAL

WeaknessCWE-78

CISA KEVNo

ExploitPOC

Affected1 vendor(s)

PublishedAug 5, 2020

Related CVEs (CWE-78)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2020-13151 in threat intel feeds
→Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts

Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

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