How severe is CVE-2020-36691?

CVE-2020-36691 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-36691 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (16th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-36691?

CVE-2020-36691 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-36691?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-36691 published?

CVE-2020-36691 was published on 2023-03-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-36691

CVE-2020-36691 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-674.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (16th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-674
Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
Published: 2023-03-24
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel before 5.8. lib/nlattr.c allows attackers to cause a denial of service (unbounded recursion) via a nested Netlink policy with a back reference.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-36691?: An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel before 5.8. lib/nlattr.c allows attackers to cause a denial of service (unbounded recursion) via a nested Netlink policy with a back reference.
How severe is CVE-2020-36691?: CVE-2020-36691 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-36691 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (16th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-36691?: CVE-2020-36691 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-36691?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-36691 published?: CVE-2020-36691 was published on 2023-03-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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