Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XSummary
CVE-2020-36997 is a high-severity Stack-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-121) vulnerability in Dummysoftware (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.4 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 29th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-16 (Memory Protection) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2020-36997 is a buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121) in BacklinkSpeed version 2.4. The flaw occurs during malicious file import, enabling attackers to corrupt the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) chain by overwriting SEH addresses with a specially crafted payload file. This can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing full control over the affected application. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating critical severity.
Remote attackers require no privileges or user interaction to exploit the vulnerability over the network with low complexity. By inducing the application to process a malicious file, they can trigger the buffer overflow, corrupt the SEH chain, and execute arbitrary code, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability with high impact.
References include the vendor site at dummysoftware.com and backlinkspeed.html, as well as public proof-of-concept exploits on Exploit-DB (exploit 48726) and a Vulncheck advisory detailing the BacklinkSpeed buffer overflow with SEH overwrite. No specific patches or mitigation steps are detailed in the provided information.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-30909
Vulnerability Data
BacklinkSpeed 2.4 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to corrupt the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) chain through malicious file import. Attackers can craft a specially designed payload file to overwrite SEH addresses, potentially executing arbitrary code and gaining…
more
control of the application.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Buffer overflow with SEH overwrite during remote malicious file processing directly enables unauthenticated RCE over the network (T1190).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Validates imported files to prevent buffer overflows from specially crafted payloads that corrupt the SEH chain.
Implements memory safeguards like ASLR and DEP to block arbitrary code execution from SEH chain overwrites even if overflow occurs.
Remediates the known buffer overflow flaw through timely patching to eliminate the vulnerability in BacklinkSpeed 2.4.
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.
Secure-development practices directly prevent introduction of stack buffer overflows.
Vulnerability scanning can discover stack buffer overflows but does not prevent their introduction.
Patching eliminates known instances of the weakness after discovery.
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.
Security testing (fuzzing, static analysis) detects stack overflows before release.
Secure SDLC mandates buffer-safety practices that directly prevent stack overflows.
Application security requirements can specify buffer-size and input-validation rules.
Secure architecture principles include memory-safety and least-privilege stack usage.
Secure coding standards explicitly forbid unsafe buffer handling that causes CWE-121.
Change-management gates can enforce security reviews that catch buffer issues.