CVE-2020-7046
Highlib-smtp in submission-login and lmtp in Dovecot 2.3.9 before 2.3.9.3 mishandles truncated UTF-8 data in command parameters, as demonstrated by the unauthenticated triggering of a submission-login infinite loop.
Published Feb 12, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2026 · Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2020-7046
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2020-7046 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.5 v3.1) affecting Dovecot, Fedora (Fedoraproject), dovecot23-backend-mysql (suse) and 16 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. No public exploit code is known.
- EPSS estimates a 51% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Dovecot 2.3.10.1-r0, Dovecot 2.3.9.3-1, Dovecot 2.3.9.3-r0.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
CVSS v3.1
7.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
51%
Higher than 98.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
No known
Not in a known-exploited catalog
Public exploit code
None known
Get the full CVE-2020-7046 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
lib-smtp in submission-login and lmtp in Dovecot 2.3.9 before 2.3.9.3 mishandles truncated UTF-8 data in command parameters, as demonstrated by the unauthenticated triggering of a submission-login infinite loop.
Affected Products
45 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| DovecotDovecot | See advisory | 2.3.9.3 |
| FedoraFedoraproject | 30, 31 | n/a |
| dovecot23-backend-mysqlsuse | See advisory | 2.3.16-1.6 |
| dovecot23-backend-pgsqlsuse | See advisory | 2.3.16-1.6 |
| dovecot23-backend-sqlitesuse | See advisory | 2.3.16-1.6 |
Patched Releases
Dovecot
2.3.10.1-r0, 2.3.9.3-1, 2.3.9.3-r0, 2.3.9.3
dovecot23
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-backend-mysql
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-backend-pgsql
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-backend-sqlite
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-devel
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-fts
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-fts-lucene
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-fts-solr
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot23-fts-squat
2.3.16-1.6
dovecot24
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-backend-mysql
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-backend-pgsql
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-backend-sqlite
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-devel
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-fts
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-fts-flatcurve
2.4.0-1.1
dovecot24-fts-solr
2.4.0-1.1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Feb 12, 2020
Last updated
Aug 5, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
- CWE-835 Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
References
- advisoryhttps://dovecot.org/pipermail/dovecot-news/2020-February/000431.html
- advisoryhttps://dovecot.org/security
- advisoryhttps://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2020-7046
- advisoryhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/02/12/1
- otherFEDORA-2020-10a58fda28
FAQ
Common Questions.
lib-smtp in submission-login and lmtp in Dovecot 2.3.9 before 2.3.9.3 mishandles truncated UTF-8 data in command parameters, as demonstrated by the unauthenticated triggering of a submission-login infinite loop.
Affected: Dovecot; Fedora (Fedoraproject) versions 30, 31; dovecot23-backend-mysql (suse), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
No public exploit code is known.
Fixed versions are available, including Dovecot 2.3.10.1-r0, Dovecot 2.3.9.3-1, Dovecot 2.3.9.3-r0.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
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