CVE-2020-7042Network attack vector

Certificate validation bypass via uninitialized hostname buffer

Published Feb 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper certificate validation in openfortivpn 1.7.1 through 1.11.0 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to subvert VPN server trust. The ssl_verify_cert function passes an uninitialized common_name buffer to X509_check_host instead of the configured gateway hostname. With OpenSSL 1.0.2 or later, the faulty check rejects valid certificates while a malformed certificate can pass, exposing the client to an impostor server.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability1.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper certificate validation in openfortivpn 1.7.1 through 1.11.0 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to subvert VPN server trust. The ssl_verify_cert function passes an uninitialized common_name buffer to X509_check_host instead of the configured gateway hostname. With OpenSSL 1.0.2 or later, the faulty check rejects valid certificates while a malformed certificate can pass, exposing the client to an impostor server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-7042
Published
Feb 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-908, CWE-295, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2020CVE 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

5.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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 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-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

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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