CVE-2020-15999: Heap buffer overflow in Freetype in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.111 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption vi
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Now (action score 87/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Nov 3, 2021). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Nov 17, 2021.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 63.8% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.2% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. A user must open a link or visit a page. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: freetype (AlmaLinux:8) 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1; freetype-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1; freetype (Alpine:v3.10) 2.10.0-r1.
- Mentioned 3 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Patch today or shut off access. Upgrade to freetype (AlmaLinux:8) 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1; freetype-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1; freetype (Alpine:v3.10) 2.10.0-r1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS
Heap buffer overflow in Freetype in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.111 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
- BDU:2020-05385
- GHSA-pv36-h7jh-qm62
- ALSA-2020:4952
- DLA-2415-1
- DSA-4777-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1718-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1731-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1734-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1737-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1744-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1952-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2020-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2031-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2096-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2187-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2315-1
- openSUSE-SU-2021:1134-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10770-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11209-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13827-1
- Published
- Nov 2, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 63.8% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-787
Report tools
Action score
87
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 38 / 40 · 9.6 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 19 / 30 · 63.8%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Nov 3, 2021. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Nov 17, 2021.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| chrome | cpe:2.3:a:google:chrome | |
| freetype | freetype | cpe:2.3:a:freetype:freetype |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| opensuse | backports sle | cpe:2.3:a:opensuse:backports_sle |
| netapp | ontap select deploy administration utility | cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- debian debian linux10.0
- fedoraproject fedora31
- freetype freetype2.6.0 and later · before 2.10.4
- google chromebefore 86.0.4240.111
- netapp ontap select deploy administration utilityall versions
- opensuse backports sle15.0
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Chrome). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Google Chrome
- unspecified and later · before 86.0.4240.111affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | freetype | before 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 | 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | freetype-devel | before 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 | 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 |
| Alpine:v3.10 | freetype | from 2.6.0 · before 2.10.0-r1 | 2.10.0-r1 |
| Alpine:v3.11 | freetype | from 2.6.0 · before 2.10.1-r1 | 2.10.1-r1 |
| Alpine:v3.12 | firefox | before 83.0-r0 | 83.0-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.12 | firefox-esr | before 78.5.0-r0 | 78.5.0-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.12 | freetype | from 2.6.0 · before 2.10.4-r0 | 2.10.4-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.16 | thunderbird | before 78.5.1-r0 | 78.5.1-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.21 | librewolf | before 83.0-r0 | 83.0-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.9 | freetype | from 2.6.0 · before 2.9.1-r3 | 2.9.1-r3 |
| Debian:10 | freetype | before 2.9.1-3+deb10u2 | 2.9.1-3+deb10u2 |
| Debian:12 | freetype | before 2.10.2+dfsg-4 | 2.10.2+dfsg-4 |
| Debian:9 | freetype | before 2.6.3-3.2+deb9u2 | 2.6.3-3.2+deb9u2 |
| NuGet | CefSharp.Common | before 85.3.130 | 85.3.130 |
| NuGet | CefSharp.WinForms | before 85.3.130 | 85.3.130 |
| NuGet | CefSharp.Wpf | before 85.3.130 | 85.3.130 |
| NuGet | CefSharp.Wpf.HwndHost | before 85.3.130 | 85.3.130 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | chromium | before 86.0.4240.111-lp151.2.147.1 | 86.0.4240.111-lp151.2.147.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | freetype2 | before 2.10.1-lp151.4.6.1 | 2.10.1-lp151.4.6.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | ft2demos | before 2.10.1-lp151.4.6.1 | 2.10.1-lp151.4.6.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | MozillaFirefox | before 78.5.0-lp151.2.79.1 | 78.5.0-lp151.2.79.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | MozillaThunderbird | before 78.5.0-lp151.2.59.1 | 78.5.0-lp151.2.59.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 NonFree | opera | before 72.0.3815.320-lp152.2.21.1 | 72.0.3815.320-lp152.2.21.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | chromium | before 86.0.4240.111-lp152.2.42.1 | 86.0.4240.111-lp152.2.42.1 |
+48
Same product
google: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2023-4863Heap buffer overflow in libwebp in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.187 and libwebp 1.3.2 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of boKEV95Now
- CVE-2021-21224Type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 90.0.4430.85 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a craftKEV90Now
- CVE-2018-17463Incorrect side effect annotation in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 70.0.3538.64 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sKEV90Now
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2020-15997Nov 2, 2020 · Use after free in Mojo in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.99 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentia35Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2020-15998Nov 2, 2020 · Use after free in USB in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.99 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potential35Monitor
- Later →CVE-2020-16000Nov 2, 2020 · Inappropriate implementation in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.111 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corrupti35Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:freetype | 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:freetype-devel | 2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:firefox | 83.0-r0 · Alpine:v3.12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:firefox-esr | 78.5.0-r0 · Alpine:v3.12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:freetype | 2.10.0-r1 · Alpine:v3.10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:librewolf | 83.0-r0 · Alpine:v3.21 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:thunderbird | 78.5.1-r0 · Alpine:v3.16 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:freetype | 2.10.2+dfsg-4 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| NuGet:CefSharp.Common | 85.3.130 | Package registry (OSV) |
| NuGet:CefSharp.WinForms | 85.3.130 | Package registry (OSV) |
| NuGet:CefSharp.Wpf | 85.3.130 | Package registry (OSV) |
| NuGet:CefSharp.Wpf.HwndHost | 85.3.130 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:chromium | 86.0.4240.111-lp151.2.147.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:freetype2 | 2.10.1-lp151.4.6.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:ft2demos | 2.10.1-lp151.4.6.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:MozillaFirefox | 78.5.0-lp152.2.30.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:MozillaThunderbird | 78.5.0-lp152.2.19.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:opera | 72.0.3815.320-lp152.2.21.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 NonFree | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python-CairoSVG | 2.5.1-lp152.2.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python-Pillow | 8.3.1-lp152.5.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:chromium-browser | 0:86.0.4240.111-1.el6_10 · Red Hat:rhel_extras:6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:chromium-browser-debuginfo | 0:86.0.4240.111-1.el6_10 · Red Hat:rhel_extras:6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:freetype | 0:2.8-14.el7_9.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:freetype-debuginfo | 0:2.8-14.el7_9.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:freetype-debugsource | 0:2.9.1-4.el8_0.1 · Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.0::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:freetype-demos | 0:2.8-14.el7_9.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:freetype-demos-debuginfo | 0:2.9.1-4.el8_0.1 · Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.0::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:freetype-devel | 0:2.8-14.el7_9.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:freetype | 0:2.9.1-4.el8_3.1 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:chromium | 86.0.4240.111-bp151.3.116.1 · SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
+4
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×3
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2020-11-04 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2020-12-30 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2020-12-30 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Published
- First PoC+1 d
- CISA KEV+365 d
- TodayNov 8, 2026+2196 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-21-0235 · Mar 16, 2021(Google Chrome Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
- TR-20-1006 · Dec 4, 2020(OpenShift Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
- TR-20-883 · Oct 26, 2020(FreeType Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds WriteCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (9 more)Show less
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Nov/33
- chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_20.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/J3QVIGAAJ4D62YEJAJJWMCCBCOQ6TVL7/
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202011-12
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202012-04
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-19
- www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4824
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240812-0001/
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-15999
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.