CVE-2020-14871 Oracle Solaris and Zettabyte File System (ZFS) Unspecified

Exploited in the wild Critical 10.0 Published 21 Oct 2020 Updated 21 Oct 2025

Unauthenticated attackers can achieve full system takeover via a memory corruption flaw in the Pluggable Authentication Module.

Exploited in the wild: Since 3 Nov 2021
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2020-14871?

CVE-2020-14871 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Oracle Solaris, published on 21 Oct 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Vulnerability in the Oracle Solaris product of Oracle Systems (component: Pluggable authentication module). Supported versions that are affected are 10 and 11. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Solaris. While the vulnerability is in Oracle Solaris, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle Solaris. Note: This CVE is not exploitable for Solaris 11.1 and later releases, and ZFSSA 8.7 and later releases, thus the CVSS Base Score is 0.0. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 10.0 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Weakness: CWE-787

Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-14871?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Oracle Solaris.

How do I fix CVE-2020-14871?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-14871 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2020-14871 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-14871 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module, 3 Exploit-DB entries and 2 proofs of concept on GitHub.

All Oracle Solaris vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-7pcp-8fjh-246q.