# CVE-2020-14517: Weak cryptography in CodeMeter

> Weak protocol encryption in CodeMeter Runtime allows attackers to bypass security and communicate with the API when running as a server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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-hqvx-g6jw-22pw

## What is CVE-2020-14517?

CVE-2020-14517 is a critical 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

Protocol encryption can be easily broken for CodeMeter (All versions prior to 6.90 are affected, including Version 6.90 or newer only if CodeMeter Runtime is running as server) and the server accepts external connections, which may allow an attacker to remotely communicate with the CodeMeter API.

Weakness: CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm), CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-14517?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wibu Codemeter.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-14517?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-14517 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-14517 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14517 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-2020-14513](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14513/): Denial of service in CodeMeter (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-14515](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14515/): Security feature bypass 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-2020-14517 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-14517 is a critical 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-2020-14517 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-2020-14517/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14517/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14517
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14517
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-14517

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14517/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.