CVE-2013-4166Network attack vector

Sensitive-information disclosure via substring GPG key matching

Published Feb 6, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Incorrect GPG key selection in GNOME Evolution 3.8.4 and earlier and Evolution Data Server 3.9.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to read email. The gpg_ctx_add_recipient function passes an unbracketed address to gpg -r, which performs substring matching across user IDs and returns the first match. Exposure requires a colliding key in the sender's keyring; encrypted mail can then go to an unintended private-key holder.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.89%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect GPG key selection in GNOME Evolution 3.8.4 and earlier and Evolution Data Server 3.9.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to read email. The gpg_ctx_add_recipient function passes an unbracketed address to gpg -r, which performs substring matching across user IDs and returns the first match. Exposure requires a colliding key in the sender's keyring; encrypted mail can then go to an unintended private-key holder.

The record

CVE
CVE-2013-4166
Published
Feb 6, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
GNOME
Product
Evolution
Classifications
CWE-200
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 6, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.8.4 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GNOME · Evolutionversion=3.8.4 and earlier
GNOME · Evolution Data Serverversion=3.9.5 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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