CVE-2020-11501Network attack vector

Confidentiality and integrity compromise via zeroed DTLS randomness

Published Apr 3, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Insufficient randomness in GnuTLS 3.6.3 through 3.6.12 allows remote attackers to compromise DTLS confidentiality and integrity. The send_client_hello function skips _gnutls_gen_client_random during the initial DTLS ClientHello because an inverted condition treats zero HelloVerifyRequest messages as a reason not to generate random bytes. Exploitation requires network access to the DTLS exchange, and the all-zero 32-byte client random removes the client's entropy contribution from session key establishment.

CVSS severity7.4
High
EPSS probability3.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insufficient randomness in GnuTLS 3.6.3 through 3.6.12 allows remote attackers to compromise DTLS confidentiality and integrity. The send_client_hello function skips _gnutls_gen_client_random during the initial DTLS ClientHello because an inverted condition treats zero HelloVerifyRequest messages as a reason not to generate random bytes. Exploitation requires network access to the DTLS exchange, and the all-zero 32-byte client random removes the client's entropy contribution from session key establishment.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-11501
Published
Apr 3, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-330
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 3, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.4Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
5.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-330Use of Insufficiently Random Values

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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