CVE-2020-7469Network attack vector

Kernel panic via stale ICMPv6 buffer pointer

Published Jun 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in FreeBSD 12.2 before p1, 12.1 before p11, and 11.4 before p5 allows remote attackers to crash the kernel via ICMPv6. The ICMPv6 routing-option handler caches a pointer into the message buffer, later option processing can free that buffer, and the stack then dereferences the stale pointer. An attacker must deliver a crafted ICMPv6 error message to an IPv6-enabled target; successful exploitation causes a kernel panic and service interruption.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in FreeBSD 12.2 before p1, 12.1 before p11, and 11.4 before p5 allows remote attackers to crash the kernel via ICMPv6. The ICMPv6 routing-option handler caches a pointer into the message buffer, later option processing can free that buffer, and the stack then dereferences the stale pointer. An attacker must deliver a crafted ICMPv6 error message to an IPv6-enabled target; successful exploitation causes a kernel panic and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-7469
Published
Jun 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
The FreeBSD Project
Product
FreeBSD
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 4, 2021CVE 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=FreeBSD 12.2-RELEASE before p1, 12.1-RELEASE before p11, 11.4-RELEASE before p5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The FreeBSD Project · FreeBSDversion=FreeBSD 12.2-RELEASE before p1, 12.1-RELEASE before p11, 11.4-RELEASE before p5

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
7.5NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499Endpoint 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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