CVE-2020-14155: libpcre in PCRE before 8.44 allows an integer overflow via a large number after a (?C substring.

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MEDIUM 5.3REMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2020-14155 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.3) affecting pcre, macos, gitlab. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

libpcre in PCRE before 8.44 allows an integer overflow via a large number after a (?C substring.

Why this priority

EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.3 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	4.2% (top 9%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-190
Published	2020-06-15
Last modified	2026-10-08

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: apple · gitlab · netapp · oracle · pcre

Last updated 2026-10-08 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-06-15 17:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-08 21:17 UTCUpdated Record last modified

pcre pcre UPGRADE

Affected: < 8.44

Fixed in: 8.44

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 8.44 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade pcre

Note

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

apple macos UPGRADE

Affected: < 11.0.1

Fixed in: 11.0.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

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.

gitlab gitlab UPGRADE

Affected: < 12.10.13 · >= 13.0.0 and < 13.0.8 · >= 13.1.0 and < 13.1.2

Fixed in: 12.10.13, 13.0.8, 13.1.2

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 13.0.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 12.10.13 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade gitlab

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 13.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison gitlab sudo apt install gitlab=<VERSION_BEFORE_13.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold gitlab

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

dnf --showduplicates list gitlab sudo dnf downgrade gitlab-<VERSION_BEFORE_13.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add gitlab

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.

oracle communications cloud native core policy DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.15.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.15.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy communications-cloud-native-core-policy || rpm -q communications-cloud-native-core-policy || communications-cloud-native-core-policy --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.15.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison communications-cloud-native-core-policy sudo apt install communications-cloud-native-core-policy=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.15.0> sudo apt-mark hold communications-cloud-native-core-policy

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

dnf --showduplicates list communications-cloud-native-core-policy sudo dnf downgrade communications-cloud-native-core-policy-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.15.0> sudo dnf versionlock add communications-cloud-native-core-policy

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.

netapp active iq unified manager MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy active-iq-unified-manager || rpm -q active-iq-unified-manager || active-iq-unified-manager --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

netapp cloud backup MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cloud-backup || rpm -q cloud-backup || cloud-backup --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

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-2020-14155?

pcre: upgrade to 8.44; macos: upgrade to 11.0.1; gitlab: upgrade to 12.10.13, 13.0.8, 13.1.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-14155 being exploited?

CVE-2020-14155 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-2020-14155 affect?

CVE-2020-14155 affects pcre, macos, gitlab. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.3). libpcre in PCRE before 8.44 allows an integer overflow via a large number after a (?C substring.

How urgent is CVE-2020-14155?

Priority 46/100. EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

GitLab vulnerabilities · macOS vulnerabilities

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References

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