CVE-2020-7043: An issue was discovered in openfortivpn 1.11.0 when used with OpenSSL before 1.0.2

This week

CRITICAL 9.1REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-7043 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.1) affecting openfortivpn, fedora, backports sle. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in openfortivpn 1.11.0 when used with OpenSSL before 1.0.2. tunnel.c mishandles certificate validation because hostname comparisons do not consider '\0' characters, as demonstrated by a good.example.com\x00evil.example.com attack.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.1 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.8% (top 14%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-295
Published	2020-02-27
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: fedoraproject · openfortivpn project · opensuse

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-02-27 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:24 UTCUpdated Record last modified

openfortivpn project openfortivpn UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.12.0

Fixed in: 1.12.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy openfortivpn || rpm -q openfortivpn || openfortivpn --version

2. UPGRADE to 1.12.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade openfortivpn

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade openfortivpn

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 30 · 31 · 32

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 30

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

opensuse backports sle DOWNGRADE

Affected: 15.0 sp1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy backports-sle || rpm -q backports-sle || backports-sle --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 15.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison backports-sle sudo apt install backports-sle=<VERSION_BEFORE_15.0> sudo apt-mark hold backports-sle

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list backports-sle sudo dnf downgrade backports-sle-<VERSION_BEFORE_15.0> sudo dnf versionlock add backports-sle

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

opensuse leap MITIGATE

Affected: 15.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-7043?

openfortivpn: upgrade to 1.12.0; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; backports sle: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-7043 being exploited?

CVE-2020-7043 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-7043 affect?

CVE-2020-7043 affects openfortivpn, fedora, backports sle. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.1). An issue was discovered in openfortivpn 1.11.0 when used with OpenSSL before 1.0.2. tunnel.c mishandles certificate validation because hostname comparisons do not consider '\0' characters, as demonstrated by a good.example.com\x00evil.examp

How urgent is CVE-2020-7043?

Priority 63/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

OpenSSL vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2020-7042 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in openfortivpn 1.11.0 when used with OpenSSL 1.0.2 or later
CVE-2020-7041 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in openfortivpn 1.11.0 when used with OpenSSL 1.0.2 or later

References

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