---
id: CVE-2020-15271
aliases:
  - GHSA-c84h-w6cr-5v8q
  - PYSEC-2020-61
title: Markdown-supplied Shell Command Execution
summary: Markdown-supplied Shell Command Execution
severity: critical
cvss: 9.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N'
vendor: lookatme
product: lookatme
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - lookatme < 2.3.0
patched:
  - lookatme 2.3.0
published: '2020-10-27'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T03:48:59.655044527Z'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-c84h-w6cr-5v8q'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme/security/advisories/GHSA-c84h-w6cr-5v8q
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15271'
  - url: 'https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme/pull/110'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme/commit/72fe36b784b234548d49dae60b840c37f0eb8d84
  - url: 'https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme'
  - url: 'https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme/releases/tag/v2.3.0'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/lookatme/PYSEC-2020-61.yaml
  - url: 'https://pypi.org/project/lookatme/#history'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.0231
epssPercentile: 0.82665
ingestedAt: '2026-09-12T03:13:01.687Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact

lookatme versions prior to 2.3.0 automatically loaded the built-in "terminal" and "file_loader" extensions. Users that use lookatme to render untrusted markdown may have malicious shell commands automatically run on their system.

### Patches

Users should upgrade to lookatme versions 2.3.0 or above.

### Workarounds

The `lookatme/contrib/terminal.py` and `lookatme/contrib/file_loader.py` files may be manually deleted. Additionally, it is always recommended to be aware of what is being rendered with lookatme.

### References

* https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme/pull/110
* https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme/releases/tag/v2.3.0

### For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

* Open an issue in [d0c-s4vage/lookatme](https://github.com/d0c-s4vage/lookatme)

## Affected packages

- `lookatme < 2.3.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `lookatme 2.3.0`