CVE-2020-25717Network attack vector

Authenticated root escalation via domain-user mapping fallback

Published Feb 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper input validation in Samba 4.15.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to gain root privileges via crafted Kerberos logins. During AD domain-member ticket processing, Samba falls back from a failed DOMAIN\user lookup to the bare local username, allowing a renamed attacker-controlled account such as root to map to UID 0. Exploitation requires authenticated domain access and control of account or ticket naming; successful abuse compromises confidentiality and integrity on the member host.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability1.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Samba 4.15.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to gain root privileges via crafted Kerberos logins. During AD domain-member ticket processing, Samba falls back from a failed DOMAIN\user lookup to the bare local username, allowing a renamed attacker-controlled account such as root to map to UID 0. Exploitation requires authenticated domain access and control of account or ticket naming; successful abuse compromises confidentiality and integrity on the member host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-25717
Published
Feb 18, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
PPP Project
Product
Samba
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 18, 2022CVE 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=samba 4.15.2, samba 4.14.10, samba 4.13.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PPP Project · Sambaversion=samba 4.15.2, samba 4.14.10, samba 4.13.14

Published CVSS scores

8.1Samba TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
8.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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