CVE-2020-8816Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via permissive MAC validation

Published May 29, 2020 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

OS command injection in Pi-hole Web 4.3.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands through a crafted DHCP static lease. The validMAC function in scripts/pi-hole/php/savesettings.php used an unanchored regular expression that accepted a valid MAC prefix while allowing attacker-controlled trailing characters into lease processing. Privileged dashboard access is required, and successful injection executes arbitrary commands on the Pi-hole host.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability78.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Pi-hole Web 4.3.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands through a crafted DHCP static lease. The validMAC function in scripts/pi-hole/php/savesettings.php used an unanchored regular expression that accepted a valid MAC prefix while allowing attacker-controlled trailing characters into lease processing. Privileged dashboard access is required, and successful injection executes arbitrary commands on the Pi-hole host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8816
Published
May 29, 2020
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 29, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo