Description
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.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | lwip | 2.1.2+dfsg1-5 | — |
| Debian 14 | ppp | 2.4.8-1+1 | — |
| Debian 13 | lwip | 2.1.2+dfsg1-5 | — |
| Debian 13 | ppp | 2.4.8-1+1 | — |
| Debian 12 | lwip | 2.1.2+dfsg1-5 | — |
| Debian 12 | ppp | 2.4.8-1+1 | — |
| Debian 10 | ppp | 2.4.7-2+4.1+deb10u1 | DSA-4632-1 |
| Debian 9 | ppp | 2.4.7-1+4+deb9u1 | DSA-4632-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 8 | ppp | 2.4.6-3.1+deb8u1 | DLA-2097-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | ppp | 2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | ppp | 2.4.7-2+2ubuntu1.2 | USN-4288-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | ppp | 2.4.7-1+2ubuntu1.16.04.2 | USN-4288-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | lwip | 2.1.2+dfsg1-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | ppp | 2.4.5-5.1ubuntu2.3+esm1 | USN-4288-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | ppp +2 | 2.4.7-26.el8_1 | RHSA-2020:0633 |
| RHEL 7 | ppp +1 | 2.4.5-34.el7_7 | RHSA-2020:0630 |
| RHEL 6 | ppp +1 | 2.4.5-11.el6_10 | RHSA-2020:0631 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8.0 E4S | ppp | 2.4.7-26.el8_0 | RHSA-2020:0634 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 8 | ppp +1 | 2.4.7-26.el8_1 | ALSA-2020:0633 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8 | ppp | 2.4.7-26.el8_1 | RLSA-2020:0633 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP1 | ppp | 2.4.7-5.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0489-1 |
| SLES 15 | ppp | 2.4.7-5.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0489-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
Show 14 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | ppp | 2.4.5.git-2.32.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:14292-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | ppp | 2.4.5.git-2.32.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:14292-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | ppp | 2.4.7-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | ppp | 2.4.8-3.6 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11191-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | ppp | 2.4.7-lp151.5.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0286-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | ppp | 2.4.8-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | ppp | 2.4.7-r7 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | ppp | 2.4.7-r7 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | ppp | 2.4.7-r7 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | ppp | 2.4.7-r7 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | ppp +1 | 2.4.5-33.amzn2.0.3 | ALAS2-2020-1400 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | ppp | 2.4.7-36 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | ppp +1 | 2.4.7-26.el8_1 | ELSA-2020-0633 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | ppp +1 | 2.4.5-34.0.2.el7_7 | ELSA-2020-0630 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
GitHub 5 repositories
-
winmin/CVE-2020-8597 ★ 48 · Mar 7, 2020
CVE-2020-8597 pppd buffer overflow poc
-
lakwsh/CVE-2020-8597 ★ 5 · Jan 24, 2021
CVE-2020-8597 in RM2100
-
anna-kravets/codeql-buffer-overflow-variant ★ 0 · Aug 12, 2026
Synthetic CWE-120 stack buffer overflow variant of CVE-2020-8597 (pppd EAP) as a CodeQL static-analysis target
-
Dilan-Diaz/Point-to-Point-Protocol-Daemon-RCE-Vulnerability-CVE-2020-8597- ★ 0 · May 12, 2020
-
dointisme/CVE-2020-8597 ★ 0 · Mar 6, 2020
CVE-2020-8597
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 22
- ALSA-2020:0633 Important: ppp security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- RHSA-2020:0633 Red Hat Security Advisory: ppp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2020:0630 Red Hat Security Advisory: ppp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2020:0631 Red Hat Security Advisory: ppp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-4288-1 ppp vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- USN-4288-2 ppp vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DSA-4632-1 ppp - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2097-1 ppp - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RLSA-2020:0633 Important: ppp security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11191-1 ppp-2.4.8-3.6 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:14292-1 Security update for ppp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:0490-1 Security update for ppp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2020:0634 Red Hat Security Advisory: ppp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Dec 4, 2025
- VDE-2020-020 WAGO: PPPD in PFC100 and PFC200 Series is vulnerable to CVE-2020-8597 CERT@VDE · May 14, 2025
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0286-1 Security update for ppp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2020:0489-1 Security update for ppp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SEVD-2022-011-02 Easergy T300 Schneider Electric CPCERT · Jan 11, 2022
- ICSA-20-224-04 Siemens SCALANCE, RUGGEDCOM CISA ICS & IT advisories · Aug 11, 2020
- VDE-2020-018 PHOENIX CONTACT: FL MGUARD, TC MGUARD, TC ROUTER and TC CLOUD CLIENT: PPPD vulnerable to CVE-2020-8597 CERT@VDE · Jun 2, 2020
- ALAS2-2020-1400 Important: ppp security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Mar 6, 2020
- ELSA-2020-0633 Important: ppp security update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Feb 27, 2020
- ELSA-2020-0630 Important: ppp security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Feb 27, 2020
References
- https://github.com/paulusmack/ppp/commit/8d7970b8f3db727fe798b65f3377fe6787575426
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200209 [SECURITY] [DLA 2097-1] ppp security update mailing-list
- DSA-4632 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2020:0631 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2020:0634 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2020:0633 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2020:0630 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0286 vendor-advisory
- USN-4288-1 vendor-advisory
- VU#782301 third-party-advisory
- 20200306 Buffer overflow in pppd - CVE-2020-8597 mailing-list
- FEDORA-2020-571091c70b vendor-advisory
- 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 vendor-advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200313-0004/
- GLSA-202003-19 vendor-advisory
- USN-4288-2 vendor-advisory
- 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