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Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2020-14347High confidence

A flaw was found in the way xserver memory was not properly initialized

The Xorg Project · xorg-x11-server

5.5MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Scheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Low, lowered one band.downgradedsince 4 Aug 2024

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
  • EPSS is 0.39% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs The Xorg Project xorg-x11-server and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: No default targetRemediation target: Normal maintenance

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Alpine, Debian findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

7 package states
Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Alpine v3.23v3.23 · communityxorg-serverVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.20.8-r4Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 11 Sep 2026
Alpine v3.22v3.22 · communityxorg-serverVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.20.8-r4Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 11 Sep 2026
Alpine v3.21v3.21 · communityxorg-serverVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.20.8-r4Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 19 Aug 2026
Debian trixietrixie · sourcexorg-serverVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:1.20.9-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcexorg-serverVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:1.20.9-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcexorg-serverVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:1.20.9-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcexorg-serverVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:1.20.9-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2020-6491

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionScheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

A flaw was found in the way xserver memory was not properly initialized. This could leak parts of server memory to the X client. In cases where Xorg server runs with elevated privileges, this could result in possible ASLR bypass. Xorg-server before version 1.20.9 is vulnerable.

What

A flaw was found in the way xserver memory was not properly initialized. This could leak parts of server memory to the X client. In cases where Xorg server runs with elevated privileges, this could result in possible ASLR bypass. Xorg-server before version 1.20.9 is vulnerable.

Why

The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.

What

A flaw was found in the way xserver memory was not properly initialized. This could leak parts of server memory to the X client. In cases where Xorg server runs with elevated privileges, this could result in possible ASLR bypass. Xorg-server before version 1.20.9 is vulnerable.

Why

The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Improper Initialization → gain additional privileges
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-665 ↗

CWE-665: Improper Initialization. The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource, which might leave the resource in an unexpected state when it is accessed or used.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.ANoneAvailability impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
Privilege escalationCWE-665
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20200812Security Bulletin 12 Aug 2020

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 12 Aug 2020, published on 12 August 2020. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2021-AVI-791Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM

d?id=CVE-2020-12049 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13434 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13434 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13543 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13543 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13584 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13584 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13776 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13776 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13933 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13933 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14344 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14344 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14345 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14345 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14346 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14346 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14347 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14347 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14360 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14360 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14361 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14361 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14362 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14362 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14363 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14363 Référence CVE CVE-2020-15358 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15358 Référence CVE CVE-2020-1971 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1971 Référence CVE CVE-2020-24330 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-24330 Référence CVE CVE-2020-24331 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CV

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2020-008983Xorg-server における初期化に関する脆弱性

Xorg-server には、初期化に関する脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
xorg-x11-server: 1.20.9
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 5 Aug 2020 · Last source change 4 Aug 2024, 12:39 UTC · CWE-665 · Improper Initialization

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-6491
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗

No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.

Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-6491↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2020-14347 · cve.blacktree.nl