CVE-2020-14360

Local privilege escalation via insufficient XkbSetMap validation

Published Jan 20, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Out-of-bounds access in X.Org Server before 1.20.10 allows local users to execute code as root through a crafted XkbSetMap request. XkbSetMap fails to ensure that a request is long enough for its declared map data before parsing it, causing access beyond the request buffer. An authorized X client is required, and root-level impact occurs only when the X server runs privileged; otherwise, execution remains in the server's context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds access in X.Org Server before 1.20.10 allows local users to execute code as root through a crafted XkbSetMap request. XkbSetMap fails to ensure that a request is long enough for its declared map data before parsing it, causing access beyond the request buffer. An authorized X client is required, and root-level impact occurs only when the X server runs privileged; otherwise, execution remains in the server's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14360
Published
Jan 20, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
X.Org
Product
X.Org Server
Classifications
CWE-119, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 20, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=xorg-x11-server 1.20.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

X.Org · X.Org Serverversion=xorg-x11-server 1.20.10

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.1NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:C

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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