Cyber Resilience

CVE-2020-11108

Pi-Hole ≤ 4.4

Public PoCHigh EPSS
Published
11 May 2020
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.78 99.5th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2020-11108 is a high-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Pi-Hole Pi-Hole. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

The Gravity updater in Pi-hole through 4.4 allows an authenticated adversary to upload arbitrary files. This can be abused for Remote Code Execution by writing to a PHP file in the web directory. (Also, it can be used in conjunction…

more

with the sudo rule for the www-data user to escalate privileges to root.) The code error is in gravity_DownloadBlocklistFromUrl in gravity.sh.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1505.003 Web Shell Persistenceconfidence: HIGH
Arbitrary file upload to the web directory enables writing a PHP web shell.
T1059.004 Unix Shell Executionconfidence: HIGH
Uploaded PHP file can be executed via the Unix shell to run attacker commands.
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: HIGH
The www-data sudo rule allows the uploaded web shell to escalate privileges to root.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Controlconfidence: MEDIUM
The gravity updater downloads and writes attacker-controlled files to the system.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-44069Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2020-8816Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2021-32706Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2026-33727Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2024-28247Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2024-34361Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2025-34087Same product: Pi-Hole Pi-Hole
CVE-2026-26952Same vendor: Pi-Hole
CVE-2026-33404Same vendor: Pi-Hole
CVE-2026-33765Same vendor: Pi-Hole

Affected Assets

pi-hole
pi-hole
≤ 4.4

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.1.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-434

Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.

addresses: CWE-434

Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.

addresses: CWE-434

Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.

addresses: CWE-434

Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-05 mostly match
prevents

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.

prevents

Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.

prevents

Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.

mitigates

Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.

References