CVE-2020-4411

Kernel crash via invalid ioctl arguments

Published May 19, 2020 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper input validation in IBM Spectrum Scale 4.2.0.0 through 4.2.3.21 and 5.0.0.0 through 5.0.4.3 allows local users to crash the kernel. The file system kernel module accepts invalid arguments passed to a subset of ioctls on the Spectrum Scale device instead of rejecting them safely. An unprivileged local account with access to the device can trigger a system-wide kernel crash, interrupting availability without reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in IBM Spectrum Scale 4.2.0.0 through 4.2.3.21 and 5.0.0.0 through 5.0.4.3 allows local users to crash the kernel. The file system kernel module accepts invalid arguments passed to a subset of ioctls on the Spectrum Scale device instead of rejecting them safely. An unprivileged local account with access to the device can trigger a system-wide kernel crash, interrupting availability without reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4411
Published
May 19, 2020
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum Scale
Classifications
CWE-20, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 19, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=4.2.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.21
  3. Affected versionversion=5.0.0.0
  4. Affected versionversion=5.0.4.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Spectrum Scaleversion=4.2.0.0; version=4.2.3.21; version=5.0.0.0; version=5.0.4.3

Published CVSS scores

7.1IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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