CVE-2020-2944Public exploit

Root takeover via sdtcm_convert calendar buffer overflow

Published Apr 15, 2020 · Updated Sep 27, 2024

Buffer overflow in Oracle Solaris 10 and 11 CDE allows local users with low privileges to gain root control through a malicious calendar file. The sdtcm_convert utility's _SanityCheck() function fails to bound an attacker-controlled calendar name or owner, overflowing a buffer. A logged-on user must invoke the setuid-root converter with the crafted file; successful exploitation executes code as root and takes over the host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in Oracle Solaris 10 and 11 CDE allows local users with low privileges to gain root control through a malicious calendar file. The sdtcm_convert utility's _SanityCheck() function fails to bound an attacker-controlled calendar name or owner, overflowing a buffer. A logged-on user must invoke the setuid-root converter with the crafted file; successful exploitation executes code as root and takes over the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-2944
Published
Apr 15, 2020
Updated
Sep 27, 2024
Vendor
Oracle
Product
Oracle Solaris
Classifications
CWE-120, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 15, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 27, 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=10
  2. Affected versionversion=11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Oracle · Oracle Solarisversion=10; version=11

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.8OracleCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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