CVE-2020-27736Network attack vector

Memory disclosure or service interruption via DNS parsing

Published Apr 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper null termination in Siemens Nucleus RTOS DNS clients allows man-in-the-middle attackers to leak memory or interrupt service. The domain-label parser fails to validate that a name in a DNS response is null-terminated, so a malformed response triggers a read past its allocated structure. Exploitation requires a privileged network position to manipulate a DNS response; the resulting out-of-bounds read can expose adjacent memory or stop the affected device.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability3.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper null termination in Siemens Nucleus RTOS DNS clients allows man-in-the-middle attackers to leak memory or interrupt service. The domain-label parser fails to validate that a name in a DNS response is null-terminated, so a malformed response triggers a read past its allocated structure. Exploitation requires a privileged network position to manipulate a DNS response; the resulting out-of-bounds read can expose adjacent memory or stop the affected device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27736
Published
Apr 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Siemens
Product
TALON TC Compact (BACnet)
Classifications
CWE-170, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 22, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=All versions < V3.5.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Siemens · TALON TC Compact (BACnet)version=All versions < V3.5.5
Siemens · APOGEE PXC Modular (P2 Ethernet)version=All versions < V2.8.20
Siemens · Nucleus Source Codeversion=Versions including affected DNS modules
Siemens · SIMOTICS CONNECT 400version=All versions < V0.5.0.0
Siemens · Nucleus ReadyStart V4version=All versions < V4.1.0
Siemens · Nucleus NET for Nucleus PLUSversion=All versions
Siemens · Nucleus ReadyStart V3version=All versions < V2017.02.3
Siemens · APOGEE PXC Compact (BACnet)version=All versions < V3.5.5
Siemens · TALON TC Modular (BACnet)version=All versions < V3.5.5
Siemens · APOGEE PXC Modular (BACnet)version=All versions < V3.5.5
Siemens · APOGEE PXC Compact (P2 Ethernet)version=All versions < V2.8.20

Published CVSS scores

6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-170Improper Null Termination
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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