---
title: "CVE-2020-8632\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-8632?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2020-8632

Publication date 5 February 2020

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-8632?format=md#impact-score)

Toggle side navigation

## Description

In cloud-init through 19.4, rand\_user\_password in
cloudinit/config/cc\_set\_passwords.py has a small default pwlen value, which
makes it easier for attackers to guess passwords.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-8632?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cloud-init | 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 21.4-25-g039c40f9-0ubuntu1~22.04.1 |
| 21.10 impish | Fixed 21.3-1-g6803368d-0ubuntu3 |
| 21.04 hirsute | Fixed 21.1-19-gbad84ad4-0ubuntu2 |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 19.4-56-g06e324ff-0ubuntu1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 20.1-10-g71af48df-0ubuntu5 |
| 19.10 eoan | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 20.2-45-g5f7825e2-0ubuntu1~18.04.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Ignored end of standard support, was needed |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-8632?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [ccdm94](https://launchpad.net/~ccdm94)

This CVE has been patched in Xenial ESM. The patch, however, has been
added only to the updates pocket, and since cloud-init is only used
during first boot (pulling from updates), there should not be a need
to add this to the security pocket.

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| cloud-init | * Upstream:   [42788bf](https://github.com/canonical/cloud-init/commit/42788bf24a1a0a5421a2d00a7f59b59e38ba1a14) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-8632)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8632)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2020-8632)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-8632)

### Other references

* <https://github.com/canonical/cloud-init/pull/189>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8632>