CVE-2020-4204

Local root code execution via buffer overflow

Published Feb 19, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Buffer overflow in IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows 9.7 through 11.5 allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. IBM identifies improper bounds checking but does not disclose the specific component or operation receiving the malformed input. Exploitation requires local access to an affected installation; successful execution can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.60%
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 IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows 9.7 through 11.5 allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. IBM identifies improper bounds checking but does not disclose the specific component or operation receiving the malformed input. Exploitation requires local access to an affected installation; successful execution can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4204
Published
Feb 19, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
Classifications
CWE-120, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 19, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=10.1
  2. Affected versionversion=10.5
  3. Affected versionversion=11.1
  4. Affected versionversion=11.5
  5. Affected versionversion=9.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windowsversion=10.1; version=10.5; version=11.1; version=11.5; version=9.7

Published CVSS scores

8.4NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.4IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
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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