CVE-2020-13965
CVE-2020-13965 is a security flaw in Roundcube Webmail, webmail software many hosting companies and universities run. Attackers can run code in the browser of someone using Roundcube Webmail and act as them. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 26 Jun 2024.[1]
Roundcube Webmail is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 1.3.12 and 1.4.5 of webmail.
Description
CISA calls it a cross-site scripting (XSS) in Roundcube Webmail. In its words: “Roundcube Webmail contains a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows a remote attacker to manipulate data via a malicious XML attachment.”[1]
The underlying weakness is CWE-80, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 6.1 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| webmail | 1.3.12 |
| webmail | 1.4.5 |
Most families won’t have Roundcube Webmail; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 26 Jun 2024, 1,478 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 17 Jul 2024 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 77%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Roundcube has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Roundcube Webmail is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 1.3.12 and 1.4.5 of webmail), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 17 Jul 2024 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 6.1.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 77%.[4] |
See also
Other Roundcube Webmail flaws
- CVE-2025-68461: cross-site scripting ·
- CVE-2025-49113: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2024-42009: cross-site scripting ·
- CVE-2024-37383: cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2023-43770: persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2023-5631: persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
Other Roundcube flaws
- CVE-2021-44026, Roundcube Webmail: webmail SQL injection ·
- CVE-2020-35730, Roundcube Webmail: webmail cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2020-12641, Roundcube Webmail: webmail remote code execution ·
- CVE-2017-16651, Roundcube Webmail: webmail file disclosure ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-2586, Linux Kernel: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2022-24816, OSGeo JAI-EXT: geoServer JAI-EXT code injection ·
Every Roundcube flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in June 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Roundcube Webmail Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 26 Jun 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2020-13965 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 9 Jun 2020.
- ^ Roundcube. Advisories and fixes: roundcube.net.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.766, percentile 99.5, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2020-13965”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.