CRITICAL
CVE-2020-8597
CWE-120Published: February 3, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
9.8
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
eap.c in pppd in ppp 2.4.2 through 2.4.8 has an rhostname buffer overflow in the eap_request and eap_response functions.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2020-8597 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Vendors & Products
Canonical1 product(s)
ubuntu linux
Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
point-to-point_protocol_project1 product(s)
point-to-point protocol
wago3 product(s)
pfc firmwarepfc100pfc200
Source: NVD CPE · 11 total CPE entries
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
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4288-1/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4288-2/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4288-1/
ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4288-2/
All References (44)
→
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-03/msg00006.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156662/pppd-2.4.8-Buffer-Overflow.htmlThird Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156802/pppd-2.4.8-Buffer-Overflow.htmlThird Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Mar/6Mailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0630Third Party Advisory
→
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0631Third Party Advisory
→
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0633Third Party Advisory
→
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0634Third Party Advisory
→
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-809841.pdfThird Party Advisory
→
https://github.com/paulusmack/ppp/commit/8d7970b8f3db727fe798b65f3377fe6787575426Patch · Third Party Advisory
→
→
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/02/msg00005.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory
→
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-19Third Party Advisory
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2020-8597
CVSS Score9.8 / 10
SeverityCRITICAL
WeaknessCWE-120
CISA KEVNo
Affected4 vendor(s)
PublishedFeb 3, 2020
Related CVEs (CWE-120)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2020-8597 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.