CVE-2020-8595Network attack vector

Authentication bypass via unstripped query or fragment

Published Feb 12, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in Istio 1.2.10 and earlier, 1.3 through 1.3.7, and 1.4 through 1.4.3 allows remote attackers to access protected paths. The Authentication Policy exact-path matcher includes a query string or fragment in the path comparison instead of removing it before JWT policy matching. A deployment must use JWT Authentication Policy with path-based trigger rules; appending ? or # to a protected path skips token validation and exposes the resource served there.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability2.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Istio 1.2.10 and earlier, 1.3 through 1.3.7, and 1.4 through 1.4.3 allows remote attackers to access protected paths. The Authentication Policy exact-path matcher includes a query string or fragment in the path comparison instead of removing it before JWT policy matching. A deployment must use JWT Authentication Policy with path-based trigger rules; appending ? or # to a protected path skips token validation and exposes the resource served there.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8595
Published
Feb 12, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 12, 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

9.0IstioCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NISTAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.3NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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