CVE-2020-13995: U.S

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-13995 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting nitf extract utility. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

U.S. Air Force Sensor Data Management System extract75 has a buffer overflow that leads to code execution. An overflow in a global variable (sBuffer) leads to a Write-What-Where outcome. Writing beyond sBuffer will clobber most global variables until reaching a pointer such as DES_info or image_info. By controlling that pointer, one achieves an arbitrary write when its fields are assigned. The data written is from a potentially untrusted NITF fil

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.7% (top 14%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2020-09-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: airforce

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-09-25 13:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:54 UTCUpdated Record last modified

airforce nitf extract utility DOWNGRADE

Affected: 7.5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.5

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy nitf-extract-utility || rpm -q nitf-extract-utility || nitf-extract-utility --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 7.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison nitf-extract-utility sudo apt install nitf-extract-utility=<VERSION_BEFORE_7.5> sudo apt-mark hold nitf-extract-utility

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list nitf-extract-utility sudo dnf downgrade nitf-extract-utility-<VERSION_BEFORE_7.5> sudo dnf versionlock add nitf-extract-utility

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.

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-2020-13995?

nitf extract utility: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-13995 being exploited?

CVE-2020-13995 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-2020-13995 affect?

CVE-2020-13995 affects nitf extract utility. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). U.S. Air Force Sensor Data Management System extract75 has a buffer overflow that leads to code execution. An overflow in a global variable (sBuffer) leads to a Write-What-Where outcome. Writing beyond sBuffer will clobber most global varia

How urgent is CVE-2020-13995?

Priority 66/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

References

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