CVE-2020-18032Public exploit

Code execution or crash via malformed record label

Published Apr 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Buffer overflow in Graphviz through commit f8b9e035 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code or crash dot via a crafted graph file. When parse_reclbl rejects a malformed record label shorter than the two-character \N fallback, record_init allocates too little heap space before overwriting the label with that fallback. Exploitation requires the crafted file to be loaded by dot; the demonstrated outcome is an application crash, while the CVE record also reports arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in Graphviz through commit f8b9e035 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code or crash dot via a crafted graph file. When parse_reclbl rejects a malformed record label shorter than the two-character \N fallback, record_init allocates too little heap space before overwriting the label with that fallback. Exploitation requires the crafted file to be loaded by dot; the demonstrated outcome is an application crash, while the CVE record also reports arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-18032
Published
Apr 29, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 29, 2021CVE 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8OSVCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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