CVE-2020-28163Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Application crash via null pathname formatting

Published Apr 15, 2023 · Updated Feb 6, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in libdwarf before 20201201 allows attackers to crash a calling application via a crafted DWARF5 object file. In dwarf_print_lines.c, print_just_file_entry_details passes a null fi_file_name to string formatting when an invalid pathname FORM leaves the field unset. Exploitation requires a calling application to process the crafted object and is limited to terminating that application, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.79%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in libdwarf before 20201201 allows attackers to crash a calling application via a crafted DWARF5 object file. In dwarf_print_lines.c, print_just_file_entry_details passes a null fi_file_name to string formatting when an invalid pathname FORM leaves the field unset. Exploitation requires a calling application to process the crafted object and is limited to terminating that application, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28163
Published
Apr 15, 2023
Updated
Feb 6, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476, T1204.002, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 6, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1204.002Malicious File
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo