CVE-2020-16845

Name: CVE-2020-16845
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-08-06T18:15:13.7+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.5/10EPSS 4.69%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-16845 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.5/10 on the CVSS scale. Go before 1.13.15 and 14.x before 1.14.7 can have an infinite read loop in ReadUvarint and ReadVarint in encoding/binary via invalid inputs.. EPSS estimates a 4.69% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Go before 1.13.15 and 14.x before 1.14.7 can have an infinite read loop in ReadUvarint and ReadVarint in encoding/binary via invalid inputs.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

4.69%

90.6th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-835

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Golang	Go	< 1.13.15
Golang	Go	>= 1.14, < 1.14.7
Opensuse	Leap	15.1
Opensuse	Leap	15.2
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0
Debian	Debian Linux	10.0
Fedoraproject	Fedora	31
Fedoraproject	Fedora	32

References

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-08/msg00021.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-08/msg00028.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00029.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00030.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21topic/golang-announce/NyPIaucMgXo
https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21topic/golang-announce/_ulYYcIWg3Q
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00037.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00038.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6RCFJTMKHY5ICGEM5BUFUEDDGSPJ25XU/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KWRBAH4UZJO3RROQ72SYCUPFCJFA22FO/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TACQFZDPA7AUR6TRZBCX2RGRFSDYLI7O/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WV2VWKFTH4EJGZBZALVUJQJOAQB5MDQ4/
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200924-0002/Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4848Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-08/msg00021.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-08/msg00028.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00029.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00030.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21topic/golang-announce/NyPIaucMgXo
https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21topic/golang-announce/_ulYYcIWg3Q
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00037.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00038.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6RCFJTMKHY5ICGEM5BUFUEDDGSPJ25XU/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KWRBAH4UZJO3RROQ72SYCUPFCJFA22FO/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TACQFZDPA7AUR6TRZBCX2RGRFSDYLI7O/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WV2VWKFTH4EJGZBZALVUJQJOAQB5MDQ4/
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200924-0002/Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4848Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.htmlThird Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Aug 6, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-16845?

Go before 1.13.15 and 14.x before 1.14.7 can have an infinite read loop in ReadUvarint and ReadVarint in encoding/binary via invalid inputs.

How severe is CVE-2020-16845?

CVE-2020-16845 has a CVSS score of 7.5/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 4.69% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-16845?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2020-16845?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST