# What is CVE-2020-1971?

> CVE-2020-1971 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.9) in OpenSSL, published on 8 December 2020. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 7.1%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2020-1971

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 47 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 5.9 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 7.1% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 8 December 2020
- **Record last updated:** 21 June 2024
- **Main product:** OpenSSL
- **Affected products:** 46

## What is CVE-2020-1971? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### The official description

The X.509 GeneralName type is a generic type for representing different types of names. One of those name types is known as EDIPartyName. OpenSSL provides a function GENERAL_NAME_cmp which compares different instances of a GENERAL_NAME to see if they are equal or not. This function behaves incorrectly when both GENERAL_NAMEs contain an EDIPARTYNAME. A NULL pointer dereference and a crash may occur leading to a possible denial of service attack. OpenSSL itself uses the GENERAL_NAME_cmp function for two purposes: 1) Comparing CRL distribution point names between an available CRL and a CRL distribution point embedded in an X509 certificate 2) When verifying that a timestamp response token signer matches the timestamp authority name (exposed via the API functions TS_RESP_verify_response and TS_RESP_verify_token) If an attacker can control both items being compared then that attacker could trigger a crash. For example if the attacker can trick a client or server into checking a malicious certificate against a malicious CRL then this may occur. Note that some applications automatically download CRLs based on a URL embedded in a certificate. This checking happens prior to the signatures on the certificate and CRL being verified. OpenSSL's s_server, s_client and verify tools have support for the "-crl_download" option which implements automatic CRL downloading and this attack has been demonstrated to work against those tools. Note that an unrelated bug means that affected versions of OpenSSL cannot parse or construct correct encodings of EDIPARTYNAME. However it is possible to construct a malformed EDIPARTYNAME that OpenSSL's parser will accept and hence trigger this attack. All OpenSSL 1.1.1 and 1.0.2 versions are affected by this issue. Other OpenSSL releases are out of support and have not been checked. Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1i (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1h). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2x (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2w).

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`

## Is CVE-2020-1971 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 7.1%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 7.1%, 7.1%, 7.1%, 7.1%, 7.1%, 7.1%, 7.1%.

### Timeline

- 8 December 2020: Published
- 21 June 2024: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2020-1971 scores **47 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2020-1971?

The published record lists 46 products. Versions are as published: "1.0.2 to before 1.0.2x" means from 1.0.2 up to, but not including, 1.0.2x.

- [OpenSSL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/openssl/openssl) by [OpenSSL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/openssl) (Application): 1.0.2 to before 1.0.2x, 1.1.1 to before 1.1.1i
- [Node.js](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/nodejs/node.js) by [Nodejs](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/nodejs) (Application): 10.0.0 to 10.12.0, 10.13.0 to before 10.23.1, 12.0.0 to 12.12.0, 12.13.0 to before 12.20.1, 14.0.0 to 14.14.0, 14.15.0 to before 14.15.4, 15.0.0 to before 15.5.0
- [Business Intelligence](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/business_intelligence) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 5.5.0.0.0, 5.9.0.0.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0
- [Communications Session Border Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_session_border_controller) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): cz8.2, cz8.3, cz8.4
- [Communications Session Router](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_session_router) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): cz8.2, cz8.3, cz8.4
- [Communications Subscriber-Aware Load Balancer](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_subscriber-aware_load_balancer) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): cz8.2, cz8.3, cz8.4
- [Enterprise Communications Broker](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/enterprise_communications_broker) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): pcz3.1, pcz3.2, pcz3.3
- [Enterprise Session Border Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/enterprise_session_border_controller) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): cz8.2, cz8.3, cz8.4
- [Peoplesoft Enterprise Peopletools](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 8.56, 8.57, 8.58
- [Communications Diameter Intelligence Hub](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_diameter_intelligence_hub) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 8.0.0 to 8.1.0, 8.2.0 to 8.2.3
- [Debian Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/debian/debian_linux) by [Debian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/debian) (Operating system): 9.0, 10.0
- [Enterprise Manager Base Platform](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/enterprise_manager_base_platform) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 13.3.0.0, 13.4.0.0
- [Fedora](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/fedoraproject/fedora) by [Fedoraproject](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/fedoraproject) (Operating system): 32, 33
- [Graalvm](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/graalvm) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 19.3.4, 20.3.0
- [Mysql Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/mysql_server) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): up to 5.7.32, 8.0.15 to 8.0.22
- [Active Iq Unified Manager](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/active_iq_unified_manager) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Aff A250](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/aff_a250) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Hardware): version not specified
- [Aff A250 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/aff_a250_firmware) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Operating system): version not specified
- [API Gateway](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/api_gateway) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 11.1.2.4.0
- [Clustered Data Ontap Antivirus Connector](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/clustered_data_ontap_antivirus_connector) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Communications Cloud Native Core Network Function Cloud Native Environment](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_cloud_native_core_network_function_cloud_native_environment) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 1.10.0
- [Communications Unified Session Manager](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_unified_session_manager) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): scz8.2.5
- [Data Ontap](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/data_ontap) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [E-Series Santricity OS Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/e-series_santricity_os_controller) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): 11.0.0 to 11.60.3
- [Ef600a](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/ef600a) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Hardware): version not specified
- [Ef600a Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/ef600a_firmware) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Enterprise Manager for Storage Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/enterprise_manager_for_storage_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 13.4.0.0
- [Enterprise Manager Ops Center](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/enterprise_manager_ops_center) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 12.4.0.0
- [Essbase](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/essbase) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 21.2
- [Hci Compute Node](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/hci_compute_node) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Hardware): version not specified
- [Hci Management Node](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/hci_management_node) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Hci Storage Node](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/hci_storage_node) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Hardware): version not specified
- [HTTP Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/http_server) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 12.2.1.4.0
- [Jd Edwards Enterpriseone Tools](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/jd_edwards_enterpriseone_tools) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): before 9.2.5.3
- [Jd Edwards World Security](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/jd_edwards_world_security) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): a9.4
- [Log Correlation Engine](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/tenable/log_correlation_engine) by [Tenable](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/tenable) (Application): before 6.0.9
- [Manageability Software Development Kit](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/manageability_software_development_kit) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [MySQL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/mysql) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): up to 8.0.22
- [Nessus Network Monitor](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/tenable/nessus_network_monitor) by [Tenable](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/tenable) (Application): before 5.13.1
- [Oncommand Insight](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/oncommand_insight) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Oncommand Workflow Automation](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/oncommand_workflow_automation) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Plug-in for Symantec Netbackup](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/plug-in_for_symantec_netbackup) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Santricity Smi-S Provider](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/santricity_smi-s_provider) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Sinec Infrastructure Network Services](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/siemens/sinec_infrastructure_network_services) by [Siemens](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/siemens) (Application): before 1.0.1.1
- [Snapcenter](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/snapcenter) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Solidfire](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/solidfire) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2020-1971?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [openssl.org](https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20201208.txt) (Vendor advisory)
- [openwall.com](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/09/14/2) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [cert-portal.siemens.com](https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdf) (Third-party advisory)
- [git.openssl.org](https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=2154ab83e14ede338d2ede9bbe5cdfce5d5a6c9e)
- [git.openssl.org](https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=f960d81215ebf3f65e03d4d5d857fb9b666d6920)
- [kb.pulsesecure.net](https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44676) (Third-party advisory)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r63c6f2dd363d9b514d0a4bcf624580616a679898cc14c109a49b750c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbb769f771711fb274e0a4acb1b5911c8aab544a6ac5e8c12d40c5143%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.debian.org](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00020.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [lists.debian.org](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00021.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DGSI34Y5LQ5RYXN4M2I5ZQT65LFVDOUU/)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PWPSSZNZOBJU2YR6Z4TGHXKYW3YP5QG7/)
- [security.freebsd.org](https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-20:33.openssl.asc) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.gentoo.org](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202012-13) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20201218-0005/) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210513-0002/) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006/)
- [debian.org](https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4807) (Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2021.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2020-11) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2021-09) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2021-10) (Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2020-1971?

CVE-2020-1971 is a medium-severity flaw in OpenSSL, published on 8 December 2020. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2020-1971?

It scores 5.9 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2020-1971 is 47 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2020-1971 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 7.1%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2020-1971 affect?

For OpenSSL: 1.0.2 to before 1.0.2x, 1.1.1 to before 1.1.1i. The record lists 46 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2020-1971?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2020-1971 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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