CVE-2020-36562Network attack vector

Unauthenticated DoS via unchecked type assertion

Published Dec 27, 2022 · Updated Apr 11, 2025

Denial of service in dht allows remote attackers to crash processes via maliciously crafted BitTorrent DHT messages. The handleRequest function performs unchecked type assertions while parsing bencoded UDP request fields, so an integer supplied where a string is expected triggers a panic. No authentication or user interaction is required; a network attacker can send the malformed packet and interrupt process availability without obtaining confidentiality or integrity impact.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in dht allows remote attackers to crash processes via maliciously crafted BitTorrent DHT messages. The handleRequest function performs unchecked type assertions while parsing bencoded UDP request fields, so an integer supplied where a string is expected triggers a panic. No authentication or user interaction is required; a network attacker can send the malformed packet and interrupt process availability without obtaining confidentiality or integrity impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36562
Published
Dec 27, 2022
Updated
Apr 11, 2025
Vendor
yann-shi
Product
dht
Classifications
CWE-617, T1499.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 27, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 11, 2025Record 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 versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

yann-shi · dhtAffected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDCVSS: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 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-617Reachable Assertion
T1499.001Endpoint Denial of Service

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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