Cyber Resilience

CVE-2020-11984

Memory Safety in Canonical Ubuntu Linux 16.04 … 20.04

Public PoCHigh EPSSMemory Safety
Published
07 August 2020
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.90 99.8th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2020-11984 is a critical-severity Classic Buffer Overflow (CWE-120) vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Apache HTTP server 2.4.32 to 2.4.44 mod_proxy_uwsgi info disclosure and possible RCE

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.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Buffer overflow in mod_proxy_uwsgi enables remote code execution against a public-facing Apache server.
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: HIGH
Exploitation of the buffer overflow can lead to privilege escalation on the target system.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2019-0211Same product: Apache Http Server
CVE-2021-26691Same product: Apache Http Server
CVE-2020-8625Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2021-44790Same product: Apache Http Server
CVE-2021-3711Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2019-17571Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2024-52533Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2020-1938Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2020-15999Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2021-41773Same product: Apache Http Server

Affected Assets

apache
http server
2.4.32 — 2.4.43
netapp
clustered data ontap
all versions
canonical
ubuntu linux
16.04, 18.04, 20.04
debian
debian linux
10.0, 9.0
fedoraproject
fedora
31, 32
opensuse
leap
15.1, 15.2
oracle
communications element manager
8.2.0 — 8.2.2
oracle
communications session report manager
8.2.0 — 8.2.2
oracle
communications session route manager
8.2.0 — 8.2.2
oracle
enterprise manager ops center
12.4.0.0
+3 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

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)
  • V5.2.1

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-120

Platform-independent managed code eliminates the need for unchecked native buffer copies that are the root cause of classic buffer overflows.

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-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure development practices directly enforce bounds checking and input validation that prevent classic buffer overflows.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes such as code review or scanning detect classic buffer overflows before exploitation.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching replaces vulnerable code containing unchecked buffer copies with corrected versions.

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.

prevents

Secure coding directly requires bounds-checked memory operations, addressing the root cause of CWE-120.

detects

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect buffer overflows through fuzzing and static analysis, though it does not prevent them at the source.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates processes that can include input validation and bounds checking to prevent buffer overflows.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify input-size validation and safe buffer handling to mitigate classic buffer overflows.

prevents

Secure system architecture and engineering principles promote defensive coding patterns that reduce the likelihood of unchecked buffer copies.

References