CVE-2020-5496Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process crash via crafted SFD generation

Published Jan 3, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in FontForge 20190801 allows context-dependent attackers to crash the application via a crafted SFD font file. Type2NotDefSplines() in splinesave.c performs an eight-byte write beyond its allocated heap buffer while FontForge generates an OTF. The supplied reproducer requires a user to open the crafted SFD and generate an OTF, and AddressSanitizer terminates the process after the invalid write.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in FontForge 20190801 allows context-dependent attackers to crash the application via a crafted SFD font file. Type2NotDefSplines() in splinesave.c performs an eight-byte write beyond its allocated heap buffer while FontForge generates an OTF. The supplied reproducer requires a user to open the crafted SFD and generate an OTF, and AddressSanitizer terminates the process after the invalid write.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5496
Published
Jan 3, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 3, 2020CVE 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

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.4SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1204.002Malicious File

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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