Tcpdump
CVE-2020-8037
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Resource allocation limits
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Impact The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could exhaust system resources through uncontrolled allocation by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
The ppp decapsulator in tcpdump 4.9.3 can be convinced to allocate a large amount of memory. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Allocation of Resources Without Limits vulnerability could allow attackers to exhaust system resources through uncontrolled allocation.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Set resource limits, implement rate limiting, validate input sizes.
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Allocation of Resources Without Limits (CWE-770), which allows attackers to exhaust system resources through uncontrolled allocation. The ppp decapsulator in tcpdump 4.9.3 can be convinced to allocate a large amount of memory. Affected products include: Tcpdump, Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Apple Mac Os X, Apple Macos.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
The ppp decapsulator in tcpdump 4.9.3 can be convinced to allocate a large amount of memory.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
GitHub
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
tcpdump 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in the sliplink_print function in print-sl.c. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), th
Multiple Integer underflows in the geonet_print function in tcpdump 4.5.0 through 4.6.2, when in verbose mode, allow rem
tcpdump 4.9.0 has a heap-based buffer over-read in the pimv1_print function in print-pim.c. Rated critical severity (CVS
tcpdump 4.9.0 has a heap-based buffer over-read in the lldp_print function in print-lldp.c, related to util-print.c. Rat
The rpki_rtr_pdu_print function in print-rpki-rtr.c in the TCP printer in tcpdump before 4.7.2 allows remote attackers t
tcpdump 3.8 through 4.6.2 might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from memory or cause a denial of
In tcpdump before 4.9.0, a bug in multiple protocol parsers (Geneve, GRE, NSH, OTV, VXLAN and VXLAN GPE) could cause a b
The OTV parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-otv.c:otv_print(). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9
The IEEE 802.15.4 parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-802_15_4.c:ieee802_15_4_if_print(). Rat
The RPKI-Router parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-rpki-rtr.c:rpki_rtr_pdu_print(). Rated cr
The PGM parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-pgm.c:pgm_print(). Rated critical severity (CVSS
Integer underflow in the olsr_print function in tcpdump 3.9.6 through 4.6.2, when in verbose mode, allows remote attacke
Exploit-DB