CVE-2020-36158

Kernel code execution via unchecked SSID copy

Published Jan 5, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Buffer overflow in the Linux kernel through 5.10.4 allows local users to crash the system or execute code via an oversized ad-hoc SSID. mwifiex_cmd_802_11_ad_hoc_start copies the supplied SSID into two fixed-size buffers using req_ssid->ssid_len without first limiting the length. Exploitation requires local access and the Marvell WiFi-Ex driver’s ad-hoc network path; successful memory corruption affects the kernel context.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability2.21%
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 the Linux kernel through 5.10.4 allows local users to crash the system or execute code via an oversized ad-hoc SSID. mwifiex_cmd_802_11_ad_hoc_start copies the supplied SSID into two fixed-size buffers using req_ssid->ssid_len without first limiting the length. Exploitation requires local access and the Marvell WiFi-Ex driver’s ad-hoc network path; successful memory corruption affects the kernel context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36158
Published
Jan 5, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 5, 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 privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
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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