How severe is CVE-2020-9488?

CVE-2020-9488 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 3.7, rated low severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-9488 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 8% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-9488?

CVE-2020-9488 primarily affects Apache Log4j. In total, 99 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-9488?

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

When was CVE-2020-9488 published?

CVE-2020-9488 was published on 2020-04-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-9488

CVE-2020-9488 is a low-severity vulnerability in Apache Log4j with a CVSS 3.x base score of 3.7. 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-295.

Key facts

Severity: Low (CVSS 3.x base score 3.7)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 8% (94th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-295
Affected product: Apache Log4j
Published: 2020-04-27
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Improper validation of certificate with host mismatch in Apache Log4j SMTP appender. This could allow an SMTPS connection to be intercepted by a man-in-the-middle attack which could leak any log messages sent through that appender. Fixed in Apache Log4j 2.12.3 and 2.13.1

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-9488?: Improper validation of certificate with host mismatch in Apache Log4j SMTP appender. This could allow an SMTPS connection to be intercepted by a man-in-the-middle attack which could leak any log messages sent through that appender. Fixed in Apache Log4j 2.12.3 and 2.13.1
How severe is CVE-2020-9488?: CVE-2020-9488 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 3.7, rated low severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2020-9488 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 8% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-9488?: CVE-2020-9488 primarily affects Apache Log4j. In total, 99 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-9488?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-9488 published?: CVE-2020-9488 was published on 2020-04-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (99)

cpe:2.3:a:apache:log4j:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_application_session_controller:3.9m0p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_billing_and_revenue_management:7.5.0.23.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_billing_and_revenue_management:12.0.0.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_eagle_ftp_table_base_retrieval:4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_offline_mediation_controller:12.0.0.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_services_gatekeeper:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_unified_inventory_management:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_unified_inventory_management:7.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:data_integrator:12.2.1.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:data_integrator:12.2.1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_manager_for_peoplesoft:13.4.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_analytical_applications_infrastructure:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_institutional_performance_analytics:8.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_institutional_performance_analytics:8.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_institutional_performance_analytics:8.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_market_risk_measurement_and_management:8.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_market_risk_measurement_and_management:8.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_market_risk_measurement_and_management:8.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_price_creation_and_discovery:8.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_price_creation_and_discovery:8.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:financial_services_retail_customer_analytics:8.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:flexcube_core_banking:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:flexcube_core_banking:5.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:flexcube_private_banking:12.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:flexcube_private_banking:12.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:health_sciences_information_manager:3.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_insbridge_rating_and_underwriting:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_insbridge_rating_and_underwriting:5.6.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_policy_administration_j2ee:10.2.0.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_policy_administration_j2ee:10.2.4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_policy_administration_j2ee:11.0.2.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_policy_administration_j2ee:11.1.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_policy_administration_j2ee:11.2.0.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_rules_palette:10.2.0.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_rules_palette:10.2.4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_rules_palette:11.0.2.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_rules_palette:11.1.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:insurance_rules_palette:11.2.0.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:jd_edwards_world_security:a9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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