# CVE-2020-36223: Memory corruption in n/a

> A double free and out-of-bounds read in OpenLDAP's Values Return Filter control handling allows attackers to crash the slapd service, causing denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 14 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2020-36223, BIT-openldap-2020-36223, CLEANSTART-2026-QP70058, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-36223, GHSA-gpx8-c343-gg78, JLSEC-2026-165, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-36223

## What is CVE-2020-36223?

CVE-2020-36223 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 25 Jan 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was discovered in OpenLDAP before 2.4.57 leading to a slapd crash in the Values Return Filter control handling, resulting in denial of service (double free and out-of-bounds read).

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free), CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-36223?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including openldap. It affects 4 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openldap` | Bitnami | All versions | 2.4.57 |

Products: Apple Mac Os X, Apple Macos, Debian Debian Linux, Openldap Openldap.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-36223?

Upgrade openldap to 2.4.57 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-36223 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-36223 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-36223 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-36223 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 25 Jan 2021. 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-2020-36223 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openldap (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 2.4.57

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-2020-36223/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36223/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36223
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36223
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-36223

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36223/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.