# CVE-2020-28009: Integer overflow in n/a

> An integer overflow in Exim's get_stdinput function can lead to a buffer overflow, potentially allowing remote code execution, though exploitation is difficult due to long execution times.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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:** 6 May 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** CLEANSTART-2025-EI23085, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-28009, GHSA-395v-ww5m-qq2x, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-28009

## What is CVE-2020-28009?

CVE-2020-28009 is a high-severity vulnerability in Exim Exim, published on 6 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Exim 4 before 4.94.2 allows Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow because get_stdinput allows unbounded reads that are accompanied by unbounded increases in a certain size variable. NOTE: exploitation may be impractical because of the execution time needed to overflow (multiple days).

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-28009?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Exim Exim.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-28009?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2020-28009 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-28009 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Exim Exim

- [CVE-2026-45185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-45185/): Use after free in Exim (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-42115](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42115/): Exim AUTH Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28017](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28017/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28018](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28018/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28020](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28020/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-28009 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-28009 is a high-severity vulnerability in Exim Exim, published on 6 May 2021. 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-2020-28009 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Exim Exim. 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-2020-28009/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28009/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-28009
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28009
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-28009

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28009/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.