# CVE-2020-14331: Memory corruption in Linux Kernel

> A local attacker can trigger an out-of-bounds write in the Linux kernel VGA console code, leading to system crashes or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2020-14331, GHSA-x3f8-pg55-6qfg, SUSE-SU-2020:2537-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-14331

## What is CVE-2020-14331?

CVE-2020-14331 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 15 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel’s implementation of the invert video code on VGA consoles when a local attacker attempts to resize the console, calling an ioctl VT_RESIZE, which causes an out-of-bounds write to occur. This flaw allows a local user with access to the VGA console to crash the system, potentially escalating their privileges on the system. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-14331?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP2_Update_1` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP2 | All versions | 2-2.3 |

Products: Linux kernel, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-14331?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2020-14331 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14331 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-14331 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-14331 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 15 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14331 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14331/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14331/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14331
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14331
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-14331

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14331/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.