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CVE-2020-8597: 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

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-8597 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting point-to-point protocol, pfc firmware, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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 this priority

  • Critical severity
  • EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited
  • Public exploit reference
  • CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
  • Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
  • On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score9.8 (Critical)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionNone
EPSS exploit chance19.9% (top 3%)
CISA exploited listNo
WeaknessCWE-120
Published2020-02-03
Last modified2026-06-17
Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · point-to-point protocol project · wago

Share: LinkedIn · X · Reddit

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

point-to-point protocol project point-to-point protocol UPGRADE
Affected: >= 2.4.2 and <= 2.4.8
Fixed in: newer than 2.4.8
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.4.2
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy point-to-point-protocol || rpm -q point-to-point-protocol || point-to-point-protocol --version
2. UPGRADE to newer than 2.4.8 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade point-to-point-protocol
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade point-to-point-protocol
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.4.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison point-to-point-protocol sudo apt install point-to-point-protocol=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4.2> sudo apt-mark hold point-to-point-protocol
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list point-to-point-protocol sudo dnf downgrade point-to-point-protocol-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4.2> sudo dnf versionlock add point-to-point-protocol
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.
wago pfc firmware MITIGATE
Affected: < 03.04.10\(16\)
Fixed in: 03.04.10\(16\)
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
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.
debian debian linux MITIGATE
Affected: 9.0 · 10.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0
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.
canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE
Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 18.04 · 19.04
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04
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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.
Fedora ELN · makedumpfile · FIXED · 1.8.0-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-3bf4582b1f · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-3bf4582b1f
Fedora 46 · python-resend · FIXED · 2.50.1-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-8c29ba68cc · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-8c29ba68cc
Ubuntu 20.04 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Ubuntu 22.04 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Ubuntu 24.04 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Ubuntu 24.10 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Ubuntu 25.04 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.7-2+4.1ubuntu5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 12 · lwip · FIXED · 2.1.2+dfsg1-5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade lwip dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' lwip)" ge "2.1.2+dfsg1-5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 13 · lwip · FIXED · 2.1.2+dfsg1-5
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade lwip dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' lwip)" ge "2.1.2+dfsg1-5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 12 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.8-1+1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.8-1+1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
Debian 13 · ppp · FIXED · 2.4.8-1+1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ppp dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ppp)" ge "2.4.8-1+1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE
RHEL 6 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.5-11.el6_10
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:0631 rpm -q ppp
RHEL 7 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.5-34.el7_7
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:0630 rpm -q ppp
RHEL 8 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.7-26.el8_1
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:0633 rpm -q ppp
RHEL 8.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.7-26.el8_0
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:0634 rpm -q ppp
RHEL 5 · ppp · DEFERRED
Alpine 3.20 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.8-r1
apk add --upgrade ppp apk info -v ppp
Alpine 3.21 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.8-r1
apk add --upgrade ppp apk info -v ppp
Alpine 3.22 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.8-r1
apk add --upgrade ppp apk info -v ppp
Alpine 3.23 · ppp · FIXED · ppp-2.4.8-r1
apk add --upgrade ppp apk info -v ppp
Amazon Linux 2 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2-2020-1400 · source
sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS2-2020-1400
Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2020-1371 · source
sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2020-1371

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

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-2020-8597?

point-to-point protocol: upgrade to newer than 2.4.8; pfc firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-8597 being exploited?

CVE-2020-8597 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-2020-8597 affect?

CVE-2020-8597 affects point-to-point protocol, pfc firmware, debian linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). 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.

How urgent is CVE-2020-8597?

Priority 77/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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