eap.c in pppd in ppp 2.4.2 through 2.4.8 has an rhostname buffer overflow in the eap_request and eap_response functions.
Priority HIGH 67CWE-120Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 20 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
eap.c in pppd in ppp 2.4.2 through 2.4.8 has an rhostname buffer overflow in the eap_request and eap_response functions.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.19925 97th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 4 advisoriesRed Hat: 20 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 11
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:point-to-point_protocol_project:point-to-point_protocol:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.4.2 – 2.4.8 | Vulnerable | Point-to-point Protocol Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:wago:pfc_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 03.04.10\(16\) | Vulnerable | WAGO |
| cpe:2.3:h:wago:pfc100:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | WAGO |
| cpe:2.3:h:wago:pfc200:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | WAGO |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:point-to-point_protocol_project:point-to-point_protocol:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.4.2 – 2.4.8 Vulnerable ·Point-to-point Protocol Project
- cpe:2.3:o:wago:pfc_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 03.04.10\(16\) Vulnerable ·WAGO
- cpe:2.3:h:wago:pfc100:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·WAGO
- cpe:2.3:h:wago:pfc200:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·WAGO
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2020:0631 Released 2020-02-27 · Red Hat rating Importantppp security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) ppp-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) ppp-devel-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) ppp-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) ppp-devel-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) ppp-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) ppp-devel-2.4.5-11.el6_10, ppp-devel-2.4.5-11.el6_10.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) ppp-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) ppp-devel-2.4.5-11.el6_10
- RHSA-2020:0630 Released 2020-02-27 · Red Hat rating Importantppp security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) ppp-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) ppp-devel-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) ppp-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) ppp-devel-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) ppp-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) ppp-devel-2.4.5-34.el7_7, ppp-devel-2.4.5-34.el7_7.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) ppp-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) ppp-devel-2.4.5-34.el7_7
- RHSA-2020:0633 Released 2020-02-27 · Red Hat rating Importantppp security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) ppp-2.4.7-26.el8_1, ppp-devel-2.4.7-26.el8_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) network-scripts-ppp-2.4.7-26.el8_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) ppp-2.4.7-26.el8_1
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2020:0634 Released 2020-02-27 · Red Hat rating Importantppp security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.0) ppp-2.4.7-26.el8_0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0634 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0631 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0630 |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-8597
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gw8r-xfqw-vw42
References
Advisory 21
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200209 [SECURITY] [DLA 2097-1] ppp security update
- DSA-4632
- RHSA-2020:0631
- RHSA-2020:0634
- RHSA-2020:0633
- RHSA-2020:0630
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0286
- USN-4288-1
- VU#782301
- 20200306 Buffer overflow in pppd - CVE-2020-8597
- FEDORA-2020-571091c70b
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156662/pppd-2.4.8-Buffer-Overflow.html
- https://www.synology.com/security/advisory/Synology_SA_20_02
- FEDORA-2020-4304397fe0
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200313-0004/
- GLSA-202003-19
- USN-4288-2
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156802/pppd-2.4.8-Buffer-Overflow.html
- https://kb.netgear.com/000061806/Security-Advisory-for-Unauthenticated-Remote-Buffer-Overflow-Attack-in-PPPD-on-WAC510-PSV-2020-0136
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-809841.pdf
- https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-224-04
Sources
- CVE-2020-8597 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-8597 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gw8r-xfqw-vw42 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-8597 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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