CVE-2020-8597Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Pre-auth code execution via flawed EAP bounds check

Published Feb 3, 2020 · Updated Dec 3, 2025

Stack buffer overflow in pppd 2.4.2 through 2.4.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through an unsolicited EAP packet. In eap_request and eap_response, an impossible comparison fails to limit the hostname length before copying attacker-controlled bytes into rhostname. Processing occurs before authentication negotiation is accepted, and successful memory corruption can execute code with pppd privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability19.93%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack buffer overflow in pppd 2.4.2 through 2.4.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through an unsolicited EAP packet. In eap_request and eap_response, an impossible comparison fails to limit the hostname length before copying attacker-controlled bytes into rhostname. Processing occurs before authentication negotiation is accepted, and successful memory corruption can execute code with pppd privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8597
Published
Feb 3, 2020
Updated
Dec 3, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 3, 2025Record 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

8.6SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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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