CVE-2020-8623
CWE-617Published: August 21, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
In BIND 9.10.0 -> 9.11.21, 9.12.0 -> 9.16.5, 9.17.0 -> 9.17.3, also affects 9.10.5-S1 -> 9.11.21-S1 of the BIND 9 Supported Preview Edition, An attacker that can reach a vulnerable system with a specially crafted query packet can trigger a crash. To be vulnerable, the system must: * be running BIND that was built with "--enable-native-pkcs11" * be signing one or more zones with an RSA key * be able to receive queries from a possible attacker
Technical Analysis
CVE-2020-8623 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 availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (22)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-617)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2020-8623 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts