CVE-2020-15250 — Information disclosure in JUnit4
In JUnit4 from version 4.7 and before 4.13.1, the test rule TemporaryFolder contains a local information disclosure vulnerability. On Unix like systems, the system's temporary directory is shared between all users on that system. Because of this, when files and directories are written into this directory they are, by default, readable by other users on that same system. This vulnerability does not allow other users to overwrite the contents of these directories or files. This is purely an information disclosure vulnerability. This vulnerability impacts you if the JUnit tests write sensitive information, like API keys or passwords, into the temporary folder, and the JUnit tests execute in an environment where the OS has other untrusted users. Because certain JDK file system APIs were only added in JDK 1.7, this this fix is dependent upon the version of the JDK you are using. For Java 1.7 and higher users: this vulnerability is fixed in 4.13.1. For Java 1.6 and lower users: no patch is available, you must use the workaround below. If you are unable to patch, or are stuck running on Java 1.6, specifying the `java.io.tmpdir` system environment variable to a directory that is exclusively owned by the executing user will fix this vulnerability. For more information, including an example of vulnerable code, see the referenced GitHub Security Advisory.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 1.7% (30-day exploitation probability)+12
- Technical severity (medium)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — www.oracle.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Apache Software Foundation Pluto, Debian Debian Linux, Junit Junit4…).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Exploitation requires user interaction: tighten email/web filtering and warn affected users.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (access control), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Pluto | < 3.1.1 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Debian | Debian Linux | version 9.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Junit | Junit4 | ≥ 4.7 and < 4.13.1 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Junit-team | Junit4 | version < 4.13.1 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Oracle | Communications Cloud Native Core Policy | version 1.14.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 1.8 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 4.4 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 0.8 | 3.6 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 4.4 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 1.9 | CVSS 2.0 | Low | 3.4 | 2.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
CWE-732 · Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 15, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 1.70%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Audit administrative actions and access to resources outside each user’s normal pattern.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · junit-team/junit4
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 5.5
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- 2020
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
39 on the record
- junit.org/junit4/javadoc/4.13/org/junit/rules/TemporaryFolder.html
- github.com/junit-team/junit4/commit/610155b8c22138329f0723eec22521627dbc52ae
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r925eaae7dd8f77dd61eefc49c1fcf54bd9ecfe605486870d7b1e9390
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2b78f23bc2711a76a7fc73ad67b7fcd6817c5cfccefd6f30a4f54943
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rdbdd30510a7c4d0908fd22075c02b75bbc2e0d977ec22249ef3133cb
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2ffe2993f4dccc48d832e1a0f1c419477781b6ea16e725ca2276dbb
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r30f502d2f79e8d635361adb8108dcbb73095163fcbd776ee7984a094
- github.com/junit-team/junit4/blob/7852b90cfe1cea1e0cdaa19d490c83f0d8684b50/doc/R
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rde385b8b53ed046600ef68dd6b4528dea7566aaddb02c3e702cc28bc
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r934208a520b38f5cf0cae199b6b076bfe7d081809528b0eff2459e40
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rea812d8612fdc46842a2a57248cad4b01ddfdb1e9b037c49e68fdbfb
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r687f489b10b0d14e46f626aa88476545e1a2600b24c4ebd3c0d2a10b
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb33212dab7beccaf1ffef9b88610047c644f644c7a0ebdc44d77e381
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf6e5d894d4b03bef537c9d6641272e0197c047c0d1982b4e176d0353
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r29d703d1986d9b871466ff24082a1828ac8ad27bb0965a93a383872e
- github.com/junit-team/junit4/security/advisories/GHSA-269g-pwp5-87pp
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r01110833b63616ddbef59ae4e10c0fbd0060f0a51206defd4cb4d917
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rdef7d1380c86e7c0edf8a0f89a2a8db86fce5e363457d56b722691b4
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5f8841507576f595bb783ccec6a7cb285ea90d4e6f5043eae0e61a41
- github.com/junit-team/junit4/issues/1676
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rde8e70b95c992378e8570e4df400c6008a9839eabdfb8f800a3e5af6
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00003.html
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r500517c23200fb2fdb0b82770a62dd6c88b3521cfb01cfd0c76e3f8b
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf797d119cc3f51a8d7c3c5cbe50cb4524c8487282b986edde83a9467
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc49cf1547ef6cac1be4b3c92339b2cae0acacf5acaba13cfa429a872
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra1bdb9efae84794e8ffa2f8474be8290ba57830eefe9714b95da714b
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r717877028482c55acf604d7a0106af4ca05da4208c708fb157b53672
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8b02dc6f18df11ff39eedb3038f1e31e6f90a779b1959bae65107279
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/raebf13f53cd5d23d990712e3d11c80da9a7bae94a6284050f148ed99
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb2771949c676ca984e58a5cd5ca79c2634dee1945e0406e48e0f8457
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r95f8ef60c4b3a5284b647bb3132cda08e6fadad888a66b84f49da0b0
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1209986f79359b518d09513ff05a88e5b3c398540e775edea76a4774
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r742b44fd75215fc75963b8ecc22b2e4372e68d67d3d859d2b5e8743f
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf2ec93f4ca9a97d1958eb4a31b1830f723419ce9bf2018a6e5741d5b
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9710067c7096b83cb6ae8f53a2f6f94e9c042d1bf1d6929f8f2a2b7a
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/reb700e60b9642eafa4b7922bfee80796394135aa09c7a239ef9f7486
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbaec90e699bc7c7bd9a053f76707a36fda48b6d558f31dc79147dbf9
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r09cfbb5aedd76023691bbce9ca4ce2e16bb07dd37554a17efc19935d
Elsewhere on this site
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Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2020-15250 is "Information disclosure in JUnit4", rated Medium. It affects Pluto (Apache Software Foundation); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 5.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 1.70% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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