CVE-2020-14779

Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded product of Oracle Java SE (component: Serialization). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 7u271, 8u261, 11.0.8 and 15; Java SE Embedded: 8u261. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Java SE, Java SE Embedded. Note: Applies to client and server deployment of Java. This vulnerability can be exploited through sandboxed Java Web Start applications and sandboxed Java applets. It can also be exploited by supplying data to APIs in the specified Component without using sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets, such as through a web service. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 3.7 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).

Published: 2020-10-21 Last update: 2025-05-27 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2020-14779 is rated Low Risk (29.6/100): CVSS Low severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.20%). Mandatory action: Monitor for updates and reassess as exploit intelligence or EPSS changes.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2020-14779

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2025-12-28 0.14% 0.20% +0.06%
2 2025-12-27 0.20% 0.14% -0.06%
3 2025-11-21 0.20%

Full EPSS history (19 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2020-14779

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
3.7 3.1 LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
2.2 1.4 [email protected]
4.3 2.0 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M)
Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:N)
No confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:N)
No integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P)
Partial availability impact.
8.6 2.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2020-14779

OS Trackers for CVE-2020-14779

vendor priority summary link
alpine CVE-2020-14779: 3 source package rows (openjdk11, openjdk7, openjdk8); 17 state rows across 7 repos (3.17-community, 3.18-community, 3.19-community, 3.20-community, 3.21-community, 3.22-community, edge-community); fixed 17, open 0. https://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2020-14779
debian not yet assigned CVE-2020-14779 not yet assigned priority: Debian including 2 source packages (openjdk-11, openjdk-8), 3 status rows across 2 suites (bullseye, sid): resolved 3. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-14779
gentoo normal CVE-2020-14779: 2 GLSA(s) (202101-19, 202409-26), 5 atom(s) (dev-java/icedtea, dev-java/icedtea-bin, dev-java/openjdk, dev-java/openjdk-bin, dev-java/openjdk-jre-bin); latest impact normal. https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2020-14779
redhat low https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-14779
suse medium CVE-2020-14779 severity moderate: SUSE including 420 source package names (10.1.33-openjdk11-59.4:java-11-openjdk-11.0.9.0-3.48.1, 10.1.33-openjdk11-59.4:java-11-openjdk-headless-11.0.9.0-3.48.1, …), 1120 product×package rows across 135 product lines (Container bci/openjdk, Container bci/openjdk-devel, … (135 product lines)): Fixed 889, Known Affected 231. https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-14779/
ubuntu medium CVE-2020-14779 medium priority: Ubuntu including 7 source packages (icedtea-web, openjdk-12, …), 112 status rows across 16 suites (bionic, focal, groovy, hirsute, impish, jammy, kinetic, lunar, mantic, noble, oracular, plucky, questing, trusty, upstream, xenial): DNE 59, released 18, ignored 15, needs-triage 12, not-affected 8. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-14779

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2020-14779

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update10:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update101:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update11:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update111:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update121:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update13:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update131:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update141:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update15:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update151:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update161:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update17:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update171:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update181:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update191:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update201:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update21:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update211:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update221:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update231:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update241:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update25:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update251:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update261:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:7:update271:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone1:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone2:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone3:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone4:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone5:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone6:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone7:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone8:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:milestone9:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update101:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update102:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update11:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update111:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update112:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update121:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update131:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update141:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update151:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update152:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update161:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update162:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update171:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update172:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update181:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update191:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update192:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update20:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update201:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update202:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update211:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update212:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update221:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update222:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update231:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update232:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update241:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update242:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update25:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update252:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:8:update262:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.2 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.3 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.4 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.5 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.6 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.7 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 11.0.8 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:11.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 13 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
oracle openjdk 13.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:oracle:openjdk:13.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2020-14779

URL Tags
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00041.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/10/msg00031.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/N6CJCO52DHIQJHLPF6HMTC5Z2VKFRQMY/ Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OMJMTXFJRONFT72YAEQNRFKYZZU4W3HD/ Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XKRGVMZT3EUUWKUA6DBT56FT3UOKPHQ2/ Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XVPLGNHNJ4UJ6IO6R2XXEKCTCI2DRPDQ/ Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YCKZAI4AWSKO5O5VDXHFFKNLOZGZ3KEE/ Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Z7XEONOP6JB7SD7AMUWZTLZF2L4QD546/ Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-19 Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20201023-0004/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4779 Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html Vendor Advisory
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