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TI-2020-01870 Aliases CVE-2020-1946GHSA-qmmx-pr2m-q429

Apache SpamAssassin has an OS Command Injection vulnerability

Priority MEDIUM 51CWE-78Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-78.

Summary

In Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.5, malicious rule configuration (.cf) files can be configured to run system commands without any output or errors. With this, exploits can be injected in a number of scenarios. In addition to upgrading to SA version 3.4.5, users should only use update channels or 3rd party .cf files from trusted places.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.06132 93rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Apache SpamAssassin (Apache Software Foundation): 3.4.5Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 1 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ApacheApache SpamAssassinApache SpamAssassin to before 3.4.53.4.5Patch availableCNA
  • Apache SpamAssassin VendorApache Affected Apache SpamAssassin to before 3.4.5 Fixed in 3.4.5 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apache:spamassassin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.4.5VulnerableApache
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*32VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*33VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*34VulnerableFedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:spamassassin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.4.5 Vulnerable ·Apache
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 32 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 33 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 34 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Apache SpamAssassin (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.4.5

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2021:4315 Released 2021-11-09 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    spamassassin security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) spamassassin-3.4.4-4.el8

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2021:4315
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-1946
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qmmx-pr2m-q429

References

Advisory 7

  • TI-2006-02383 SpamAssassin before 3.1.3, when running with vpopmail and the paranoid (-P) switch… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.1
  • TI-2018-08437 A potential Remote Code Execution bug exists with the PDFInfo plugin in Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.2. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-01855 OS command injection in Apache SpamAssassin CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2020-01854 OS command injection in Apache SpamAssassin CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2019-09265 Uncontrolled resource consumption in Apache SpamAssassin CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2018-08438 Apache SpamAssassin 3.4.2 fixes a local user code injection in the meta rule syntax. CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
See all 12 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences