CVE-2020-8608Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Guest-to-host code execution via IRC DCC rewrite

Published Feb 6, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Heap buffer overflow in libslirp 4.1.0, as used by QEMU 4.2.0, allows guest OS users to crash QEMU or execute host-side code. The tcp_emu IRC DCC SEND handler rewrites an embedded IP address in place and lets snprintf output exceed the backing mbuf when the replacement grows. Exploitation requires SLiRP protocol emulation and crafted guest traffic to the emulated IRC service; resulting code runs with the QEMU host process privileges.

CVSS severity5.6
Medium
EPSS probability2.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap buffer overflow in libslirp 4.1.0, as used by QEMU 4.2.0, allows guest OS users to crash QEMU or execute host-side code. The tcp_emu IRC DCC SEND handler rewrites an embedded IP address in place and lets snprintf output exceed the backing mbuf when the replacement grows. Exploitation requires SLiRP protocol emulation and crafted guest traffic to the emulated IRC service; resulting code runs with the QEMU host process privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8608
Published
Feb 6, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 6, 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

5.6NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/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 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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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