CVE-2020-36213Network attack vector

Service interruption via panic-corrupted UTF-8 retention

Published Jan 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Encoding error in abi_stable before 0.9.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt service by triggering RString::retain with a panicking predicate. RString::retain shifts retained UTF-8 bytes in place but restores the shortened length only after the predicate loop, so a predicate panic can leave partially shifted bytes marked as a valid string. Reachability depends on a consuming application exposing attacker-influenced input and a panic path; the published record reports no data read or write impact.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Encoding error in abi_stable before 0.9.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt service by triggering RString::retain with a panicking predicate. RString::retain shifts retained UTF-8 bytes in place but restores the shortened length only after the predicate loop, so a predicate panic can leave partially shifted bytes marked as a valid string. Reachability depends on a consuming application exposing attacker-influenced input and a panic path; the published record reports no data read or write impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36213
Published
Jan 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-172
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 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?

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

7.5RustSec Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
7.5GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-172Encoding Error

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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