MEDIUM
CVE-2020-28916
CWE-835Published: December 4, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
5.5
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
hw/net/e1000e_core.c in QEMU 5.0.0 has an infinite loop via an RX descriptor with a NULL buffer address.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2020-28916 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 5.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (8)
→
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/12/01/2Mailing List · Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00024.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/09/msg00008.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2020-11/msg03185.htmlExploit · Mailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/12/01/2Mailing List · Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00024.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/09/msg00008.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2020-11/msg03185.htmlExploit · Mailing List · Third Party Advisory
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2020-28916
CVSS Score5.5 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-835
CISA KEVNo
Affected2 vendor(s)
PublishedDec 4, 2020
Related CVEs (CWE-835)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2020-28916 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.