CVE-2020-14928: evolution-data-server (eds) through 3.36.3 has a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects SMTP and POP3

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-14928?

evolution-data-server: upgrade to newer than 3.36.3; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-14928 being exploited?

CVE-2020-14928 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-14928 affect?

CVE-2020-14928 affects evolution-data-server, debian linux, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.9). evolution-data-server (eds) through 3.36.3 has a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects SMTP and POP3. When a server sends a "begin TLS" response, eds reads additional data and evaluates it in a TLS context, aka "response injection."

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-14928?

Priority 57/100. Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

This week

MEDIUM 5.9REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-14928 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.9) affecting evolution-data-server, debian linux, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

evolution-data-server (eds) through 3.36.3 has a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects SMTP and POP3. When a server sends a "begin TLS" response, eds reads additional data and evaluates it in a TLS context, aka "response injection."

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.9 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.8% (top 14%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-74
Published	2020-07-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · fedoraproject · gnome

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-07-17 16:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:55 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnome evolution-data-server UPGRADE

Affected: <= 3.36.3

Fixed in: newer than 3.36.3

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy evolution-data-server || rpm -q evolution-data-server || evolution-data-server --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 3.36.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade evolution-data-server

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade evolution-data-server

Note

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

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.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 31

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 31

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.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 16.04 · 18.04 · 20.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.04

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-2020-14928?

evolution-data-server: upgrade to newer than 3.36.3; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-14928 being exploited?

CVE-2020-14928 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-2020-14928 affect?

CVE-2020-14928 affects evolution-data-server, debian linux, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.9). evolution-data-server (eds) through 3.36.3 has a STARTTLS buffering issue that affects SMTP and POP3. When a server sends a "begin TLS" response, eds reads additional data and evaluates it in a TLS context, aka "response injection."

How urgent is CVE-2020-14928?

Priority 57/100. Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

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References

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