Code execution via oversized WHOIS response
Published Jun 19, 2020 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Stack-based buffer overflow in DMitry 1.3a allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an oversized WHOIS response. The nic_format_buff function copies response lines into the fixed-size frmtdbuff stack buffer without enforcing its 128-byte capacity. Exploitation requires control of the queried WHOIS server or interception of its unencrypted TCP connection; the published proof of concept demonstrates a crash, while code execution requires overwriting control data.
Summary
What happened
Stack-based buffer overflow in DMitry 1.3a allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an oversized WHOIS response. The nic_format_buff function copies response lines into the fixed-size frmtdbuff stack buffer without enforcing its 128-byte capacity. Exploitation requires control of the queried WHOIS server or interception of its unencrypted TCP connection; the published proof of concept demonstrates a crash, while code execution requires overwriting control data.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-14931
- Published
- Jun 19, 2020
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 19, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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.
Public exploit references
- WHOIS response stack-overflow proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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