CVE-2020-14145

CVE-2020-14145 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openbsd Openssh with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-203.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.9)
• CVSS v2: 4.3
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (79th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-203
• Affected product: Openbsd Openssh
• Published: 2020-06-29
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The client side in OpenSSH 5.7 through 8.4 has an Observable Discrepancy leading to an information leak in the algorithm negotiation. This allows man-in-the-middle attackers to target initial connection attempts (where no host key for the server has been cached by the client). NOTE: some reports state that 8.5 and 8.6 are also affected.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-14145?

The client side in OpenSSH 5.7 through 8.4 has an Observable Discrepancy leading to an information leak in the algorithm negotiation. This allows man-in-the-middle attackers to target initial connection attempts (where no host key for the server has been cached by the client). NOTE: some reports state that 8.5 and 8.6 are also affected.

How severe is CVE-2020-14145?

CVE-2020-14145 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.9, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-14145 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-14145?

CVE-2020-14145 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 12 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-14145?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-14145 published?

CVE-2020-14145 was published on 2020-06-29 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/12/02/1
• https://anongit.mindrot.org/openssh.git/commit/?id=b3855ff053f5078ec3d3c653cdaedefaa5fc362d
• https://docs.ssh-mitm.at/CVE-2020-14145.html
• https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/compare/V_8_3_P1...V_8_4_P1
• https://github.com/ssh-mitm/ssh-mitm/blob/master/ssh_proxy_server/plugins/session/cve202014145.py
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202105-35
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200709-0004/
• https://www.fzi.de/en/news/news/detail-en/artikel/fsa-2020-2-ausnutzung-eines-informationslecks-fuer-gezielte-mitm-angriffe-auf-ssh-clients/

Affected products (12)

• cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:8.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:8.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:8.6:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:netapp:aff_a700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_unified_manager:*:*:*:*:*:vmware_vsphere:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:netapp:steelstore_cloud_integrated_storage:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Openbsd Openssh

• CVE-2003-0786 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The SSH1 PAM challenge response authentication in OpenSSH 3.7.1 and 3.7.1p1, when Privilege Separation is disabled,…
• CVE-2003-0693 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A "buffer management error" in buffer_append_space of buffer.c for OpenSSH before 3.7 may allow remote attackers to…
• CVE-2002-0640 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in sshd in OpenSSH 2.3.1 through 3.3 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large…
• CVE-2001-0144 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): CORE SDI SSH1 CRC-32 compensation attack detector allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on an SSH…
• CVE-2000-0999 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerabilities in OpenBSD ssh program (and possibly other BSD-based operating systems) allow attackers…
• CVE-2000-0525 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): OpenSSH does not properly drop privileges when the UseLogin option is enabled, which allows local users to execute…

All CVEs affecting Openbsd Openssh →

Other CWE-203 (Observable Discrepancy) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2019-25337 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): OwnCloud 8.1.8 contains a username enumeration vulnerability that allows remote attackers to discover user accounts by…
• CVE-2026-23519 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): RustCrypto CMOV provides conditional move CPU intrinsics which are guaranteed on major platforms to execute in…
• CVE-2025-27667 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Vasion Print (formerly PrinterLogic) before Virtual Appliance Host 22.0.843 Application 20.0.1923 allows Administrative…
• CVE-2024-25714 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Rhonabwy through 1.1.13, HMAC signature verification uses a strcmp function that is vulnerable to side-channel…
• CVE-2024-25191 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): php-jwt 1.0.0 uses strcmp (which is not constant time) to verify authentication, which makes it easier to bypass…
• CVE-2024-25190 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): l8w8jwt 2.2.1 uses memcmp (which is not constant time) to verify authentication, which makes it easier to bypass…

Browse all CWE-203 (Observable Discrepancy) vulnerabilities →

Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

• 152.32.208.73 (ipv4-addr)
• 152.32.217.163 (ipv4-addr)
• 152.32.204.21 (ipv4-addr)
• 152.32.145.49 (ipv4-addr)
• 104.218.164.192 (ipv4-addr)
• 165.154.162.193 (ipv4-addr)
• 165.154.11.210 (ipv4-addr)
• 152.32.207.42 (ipv4-addr)