CVE-2019-20917: An issue was discovered in InspIRCd 2 before 2.0.28 and 3 before 3.3.0

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MEDIUM 6.5WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2019-20917 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting inspircd, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in InspIRCd 2 before 2.0.28 and 3 before 3.3.0. The mysql module contains a NULL pointer dereference when built against mariadb-connector-c 3.0.5 or newer. When combined with the sqlauth or sqloper modules, this vulnerability can be used for remote crashing of an InspIRCd server by any user able to connect to a server.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.8% (top 14%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-476
Published	2020-09-11
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: debian · inspircd

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-09-11 05:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:31 UTCUpdated Record last modified

inspircd inspircd UPGRADE

Affected: >= 2.0 and < 2.0.28 · >= 3.0 and < 3.3.0

Fixed in: 2.0.28, 3.3.0

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy inspircd || rpm -q inspircd || inspircd --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.0.28 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade inspircd

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade inspircd

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison inspircd sudo apt install inspircd=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold inspircd

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list inspircd sudo dnf downgrade inspircd-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add inspircd

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.0 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2019-20917?

inspircd: upgrade to 2.0.28, 3.3.0; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2019-20917 being exploited?

CVE-2019-20917 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2019-20917 affect?

CVE-2019-20917 affects inspircd, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). An issue was discovered in InspIRCd 2 before 2.0.28 and 3 before 3.3.0. The mysql module contains a NULL pointer dereference when built against mariadb-connector-c 3.0.5 or newer. When combined with the sqlauth or sqloper modules, this vuln

How urgent is CVE-2019-20917?

Priority 49/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

MySQL vulnerabilities · MariaDB vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-33586 MEDIUM 4.3 UPGRADE InspIRCd 3.8.0 through 3.9.x before 3.10.0 allows any user (able to connect to the server) to access recently
CVE-2020-25269 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in InspIRCd 2 before 2.0.29 and 3 before 3.6.0
CVE-2019-20918 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in InspIRCd 3 before 3.1.0
CVE-2016-7142 MEDIUM 5.9 UPGRADE MITIGATE The m_sasl module in InspIRCd before 2.0.23, when used with a service that supports SASL_EXTERNAL authenticati
CVE-2015-8702 HIGH 8.6 MITIGATE UPGRADE The DNS::GetResult function in dns.cpp in InspIRCd before 2.0.19 allows remote DNS servers to cause a denial o

References

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