CVE-2020-16119Public exploit

Local kernel code execution via DCCP socket reuse

Published Jan 14, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel DCCP implementation allows local users to crash the system or execute arbitrary code through socket reuse. Reusing a DCCP socket as a listener clones a dccps_hc_tx_ccid pointer that disconnect frees, leaving a dangling pointer for later dereference. The path requires local access and an enabled or autoloadable DCCP implementation; exploitation interrupts the system or runs code in kernel context.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.42%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel DCCP implementation allows local users to crash the system or execute arbitrary code through socket reuse. Reusing a DCCP socket as a listener clones a dccps_hc_tx_ccid pointer that disconnect frees, leaving a dangling pointer for later dereference. The path requires local access and an enabled or autoloadable DCCP implementation; exploitation interrupts the system or runs code in kernel context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-16119
Published
Jan 14, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Linux Foundation
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 14, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.13 kernel <3.13.0.182.191
  2. Affected versionversion=3.2 kernel <3.2.0-149.196
  3. Affected versionversion=4.15 kernel <4.15.0-121.123
  4. Affected versionversion=4.4 kernel <4.4.0-193.224
  5. Affected versionversion=5.3 kernel <5.3.0-68.63
  6. Affected versionversion=5.4 kernel <5.4.0-51.56

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Linux Foundation · Linux Kernelversion=3.13 kernel <3.13.0.182.191; version=3.2 kernel <3.2.0-149.196; version=4.15 kernel <4.15.0-121.123; version=4.4 kernel <4.4.0-193.224; version=5.3 kernel <5.3.0-68.63; version=5.4 kernel <5.4.0-51.56

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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