What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-14954?

CVE-2020-14954 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.9 (Medium). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. EPSS exploitation probability: 2.3%.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2020-14954?

Yes, a patch is available for CVE-2020-14954. Update the affected software to the latest version immediately.

Mutt CVE-2020-14954

MEDIUM

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') (CWE-74)

2020-06-21 cve@mitre.org

Code Injection Debian Canonical Debian Linux Fedora Leap Ubuntu Linux Mutt Opensuse Neomutt Fedoraproject

5.9

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-74 OWASP Top 10:2025 A05:2025 - Injection ASVS 5.0 V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Input neutralization, injection prevention
Impact	CVSS score of 5.9 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the medium-severity affected system.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).

Patch available 2.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Mutt before 1.14.4 and NeoMutt before 2020-06-19 have a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects IMAP, SMTP, and POP3. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74. Mutt before 1.14.4 and NeoMutt before 2020-06-19 have a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects IMAP, SMTP, and POP3. When a server sends a "begin TLS" response, the client reads additional data (e.g., from a man-in-the-middle attacker) and evaluates it in a TLS context, aka "response injection." Affected products include: Mutt, Debian Debian Linux, Neomutt, Fedoraproject Fedora, Canonical Ubuntu Linux. Version information: before 1.14.4.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 5.9 MEDIUM

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

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

High

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

High

Availability

None

DescriptionNVD

Mutt before 1.14.4 and NeoMutt before 2020-06-19 have a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects IMAP, SMTP, and POP3. When a server sends a "begin TLS" response, the client reads additional data (e.g., from a man-in-the-middle attacker) and evaluates it in a TLS context, aka "response injection."

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

2.3%

Top 19% exploitable

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

GitHub

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity MEDIUM

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 2.3%

Patch available Yes

Active threat No

Deciding rule

MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Human Impact· derived

Medium

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +2

CVSS: +30

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Code Injection CRITICAL

Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:a:neomutt:neomutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:19.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*