# CVE-2020-1946: Apache SpamAssassin has an OS Command Injection vulnerability


- **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
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Mar 2021
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2020-1946, ALSA-2021:4315, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-1946, DLA-2615-1, DSA-4879-1, GHSA-qmmx-pr2m-q429, MGASA-2021-0182, RHSA-2021:4315, RLSA-2021:4315, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-1946, USN-4899-1, USN-4899-2

## What is CVE-2020-1946?

CVE-2020-1946 is a critical vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 25 Mar 2021. 

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-1946?

It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `spamassassin` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 3.4.4-4.el8 |
| `spamassassin` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.4-4.el8 |
| `spamassassin-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.4-4.el8 |
| `spamassassin-debugsource` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.4-4.el8 |
| `spamassassin` | Rocky Linux:8 | All versions | 0:3.4.4-4.el8 |

Products: Apache Spamassassin, Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-1946?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2020-1946 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1946 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2018-11780](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11780/): Code injection in Apache SpamAssassin (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-1930](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1930/): Command injection in Apache SpamAssassin (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2020-1931](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1931/): Command injection in Apache SpamAssassin (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2018-11781](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11781/): Apache SpamAssassin 3.4.2 fixes a local user code injection in the meta rule syntax. (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-1238](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1238/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-1946 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-1946 is a critical vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 25 Mar 2021. 
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1946 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2020-1946/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1946/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1946
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1946
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1946

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1946/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.