CVE-2020-4706Network attack vector

Cache poisoning via improper Host header validation

Published Aug 17, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

HTTP Host header injection in IBM API Connect 5.0.0.0 through 5.0.8.10 allows remote authenticated users to poison caches or hijack sessions. Host-header processing fails to validate the attacker-supplied hostname, but IBM has not identified the responsible handler or disclosed its downstream use. Low-privilege authentication is required, and resulting response manipulation enables cross-site scripting, cache poisoning, or session hijacking.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

HTTP Host header injection in IBM API Connect 5.0.0.0 through 5.0.8.10 allows remote authenticated users to poison caches or hijack sessions. Host-header processing fails to validate the attacker-supplied hostname, but IBM has not identified the responsible handler or disclosed its downstream use. Low-privilege authentication is required, and resulting response manipulation enables cross-site scripting, cache poisoning, or session hijacking.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4706
Published
Aug 17, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
API Connect
Classifications
CWE-79, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 2021CVE 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=5.0.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=5.0.8.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · API Connectversion=5.0.0.0; version=5.0.8.10

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:N
5.4IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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