Apache SpamAssassin has an OS Command Injection vulnerability

Description

In Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.5, malicious rule configuration (.cf) files can be configured to run system commands without any output or errors. With this, exploits can be injected in a number of scenarios. In addition to upgrading to SA version 3.4.5, users should only use update channels or 3rd party .cf files from trusted places.

Scores

EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)

6.1% · top 6.5% of all CVEs (7 Nov 2026)

The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Critical 9.8.

Weakness

• CWE-78 OS Command Injection (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-78 and its CVEs

Affected products

• Apache Software Foundation · Apache SpamAssassin

  • affected Apache SpamAssassin – < 3.4.5

References (7)

• https://s.apache.org/3r1wh (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
• DSA-4879 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANx_transferred
• FEDORA-2021-bf06dcffa8 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAx_transferred
• [debian-lts-announce] 20210401 [SECURITY] [DLA 2615-1] spamassassin security update (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTx_transferred
• FEDORA-2021-90e915cc4f (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAx_transferred
• FEDORA-2021-5a4377797c (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAx_transferred
• GLSA-202105-26 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOx_transferred

Sources

The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.

• CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
• CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
• NVD (opens in a new tab)
• FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
• OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
• GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
• CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)

Badge for a README or a ticket

[![CVE-2020-1946](https://trackcve.app/badge/CVE-2020-1946.svg)](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2020-1946)

Record last updated 13 Feb 2025, 16:27 UTC.