Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2020-37127

dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 - 'dhcp_release' Denial of Service

6.9 MediumFix available

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.21%Up 0.2 points since Feb 6, 2026
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 6.9

dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 - 'dhcp_release' Denial of Service

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Record
CVE-2020-37127
CVSS 4.0
6.9 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-121
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-31023 6.9

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Record
EUVD-2020-31023
CVSS 4.0
6.9 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j2ph-f4fj-m4r3 6.9

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that...

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Record
GHSA-j2ph-f4fj-m4r3
CVSS 4.0
6.9 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/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:X
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-121
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 6.9

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Record
CVE-2020-37127
CVSS 4.0
6.9 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/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:X
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-121
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-37127 6.9

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-37127
CVSS 4.0
6.9 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/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:X
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-37127 6.9

Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-37127
CVSS 4.0
6.9 MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-8311-1 No score

dnsmasq vulnerability

Petr Menšík discovered that Dnsmasq incorrectly handled certain input in the dhcp_release utility. A local attacker could possibly use this issue to cause Dnsmasq to crash, resulting in a denial of service.

Record
USN-8311-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
dnsmasq
Debian:12
 before 2.80-1
2.80-1
dnsmasq
Debian:13
 before 2.80-1
2.80-1
dnsmasq
Debian:14
 before 2.80-1
2.80-1
dnsmasq
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
 before 2.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm6, plus listed versions
2.66-4ubuntu12.67-12.68-12.68-1ubuntu0.12.68-1ubuntu0.2
Show 4 moreShow less
2.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm12.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm22.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm32.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm5
2.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm6
dnsmasq
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
 before 2.90-0ubuntu0.18.04.1+esm1, plus listed versions
2.78-12.78-32.79-12.79-1ubuntu0.22.79-1ubuntu0.3
Show 4 moreShow less
2.79-1ubuntu0.42.79-1ubuntu0.52.79-1ubuntu0.62.79-1ubuntu0.7
2.90-0ubuntu0.18.04.1+esm1
dnsmasq
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
 before 2.90-0ubuntu0.22.04.1, plus listed versions
2.85-1ubuntu22.86-1.12.86-1.1ubuntu0.12.86-1.1ubuntu0.22.86-1.1ubuntu0.32.86-1.1ubuntu0.42.86-1.1ubuntu0.5
2.90-0ubuntu0.22.04.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-37127 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.9) in Dnsmasq Dnsmasq-utils, published February 5, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.21%, the 10th percentile. Fixed in dnsmasq 2.80-1.

References

Pages All vulnerabilities Browse Docs Sources Guide Get API key
MoveEnter Open