CVE-2020-8991

Daemon memory consumption via unreleased volume-group lookups

Published Feb 14, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Memory leakage in LVM2 2.02 lvmetad allows local users with root privileges to consume daemon memory by repeatedly running pvs. The vg_lookup function in daemons/lvmetad/lvmetad-core.c fails to release memory associated with repeated volume-group lookups. Only root can reach lvmetad in the standard configuration, and Red Hat disputes any denial-of-service or privilege-escalation path because the optional cache can be killed, disabled, or bypassed.

CVSS severity2.3
Low
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leakage in LVM2 2.02 lvmetad allows local users with root privileges to consume daemon memory by repeatedly running pvs. The vg_lookup function in daemons/lvmetad/lvmetad-core.c fails to release memory associated with repeated volume-group lookups. Only root can reach lvmetad in the standard configuration, and Red Hat disputes any denial-of-service or privilege-escalation path because the optional cache can be killed, disabled, or bypassed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8991
Published
Feb 14, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-401
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 14, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

2.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

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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