# CVE-2020-14515: Security feature bypass in CodeMeter

> Attackers can forge valid license files for CodeMeter when using CmActLicense Firm Code, bypassing signature checks to enable unauthorized software usage.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-77f6-gh77-3f4f

## What is CVE-2020-14515?

CVE-2020-14515 is a high-severity vulnerability in CodeMeter, published on 16 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

CodeMeter (All versions prior to 6.90 when using CmActLicense update files with CmActLicense Firm Code) has an issue in the license-file signature checking mechanism, which allows attackers to build arbitrary license files, including forging a valid license file as if it were a valid license file of an existing vendor. Only CmActLicense update files with CmActLicense Firm Code are affected.

Weakness: CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-14515?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wibu Codemeter.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-14515?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-14515 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-14515 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14515 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in CodeMeter

- [CVE-2020-14509](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14509/): Memory corruption in CodeMeter (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-14517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14517/): Weak cryptography in CodeMeter (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-14513](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14513/): Denial of service in CodeMeter (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-14519](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14519/): Missing authorization in CodeMeter (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-16233](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-16233/): Information disclosure in CodeMeter (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-14515 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-14515 is a high-severity vulnerability in CodeMeter, published on 16 Sep 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14515 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: CodeMeter. 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-2020-14515/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14515/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14515
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14515
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-14515

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14515/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.