CVE-2020-20096Public exploitNetwork attack vector

URI spoofing via right-to-left override injection

Published Mar 23, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

URI spoofing in WhatsApp for iOS 2.19.80 and earlier and Android 2.19.222 and earlier allows remote attackers to disguise link targets. The message interface honors a U+202E right-to-left override inside URI text, reversing displayed characters so an attacker-controlled domain resembles a legitimate address. Exploitation requires the recipient to open the crafted link; the established consequence is navigation to an attacker-controlled site, not code execution.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

URI spoofing in WhatsApp for iOS 2.19.80 and earlier and Android 2.19.222 and earlier allows remote attackers to disguise link targets. The message interface honors a U+202E right-to-left override inside URI text, reversing displayed characters so an attacker-controlled domain resembles a legitimate address. Exploitation requires the recipient to open the crafted link; the established consequence is navigation to an attacker-controlled site, not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-20096
Published
Mar 23, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1566.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 23, 2022CVE 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1566.002Spearphishing Link

Public exploit references

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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