CVE-2020-8997Public exploit

Adjacent memory modification via NFC unlock command

Published Feb 16, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper memory protection in older Abbott FreeStyle Libre sensors allows remote attackers to write sensor memory through NFC. A vendor-specific NFC command, when supplied with its secret password, unlocks normally non-writable blocks 0x00 through 0xf3 and permits subsequent block writes. The attacker must remain within NFC range and know the unpublished password; altered protected blocks can invalidate a sensor or change its stored operating state.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper memory protection in older Abbott FreeStyle Libre sensors allows remote attackers to write sensor memory through NFC. A vendor-specific NFC command, when supplied with its secret password, unlocks normally non-writable blocks 0x00 through 0xf3 and permits subsequent block writes. The attacker must remain within NFC range and know the unpublished password; altered protected blocks can invalidate a sensor or change its stored operating state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8997
Published
Feb 16, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1565.001
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 16, 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 vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.8NIST NVDAV:A/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.

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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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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