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CVE-2020-28974

19
FAUCET Score

CVE-2020-28974 is a slab-out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Linux kernel (before version 5.9.7), specifically affecting the fbcon component, which could be exploited by local attackers. This flaw allows for reading privileged information or potentially crashing the kernel due to manipulations of font height. With a CVSS score of 5.0 (Medium), it requires high privileges and local access, but has a low impact on confidentiality and integrity, and a high impact on availability. There is no known active exploitation, public exploit code (Metasploit, Nuclei, ExploitDB), or significant community discussion or media coverage regarding this vulnerability.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
< 5.9.7CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
9.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

5.0MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H

Attack Vector
PHYSICAL
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
HIGH
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
LOW
Integrity Impact
LOW
Availability Impact
HIGH
Exploitability Score
0.3
Impact Score
4.7
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
0.51%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
40.5%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-27
Model: v2026.06.15
This CVE's current EPSS score of 0.0051 is in the 81st percentile among its peer group of 48 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.0 Reddit, 0.0 Bluesky, 0.0 Mastodon, and 0.0 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

No media coverage found for this CVE.

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.1 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.0 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (8)

microsoftpatch availablevia msrc
Product: 19137-16820Fixed in: 5.4.91-1
microsoftpatch availablevia msrc
Product: cm1 kernel 5.4.91-1 on CBL Mariner 1.0Fixed in: 5.4.91-1
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Fixed in: kernel-0:4.18.0-305.el8
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Fixed in: kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8
View patch
redhatend of lifevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Fixed in: kernel
redhatend of lifevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Fixed in: kernel-alt
redhatend of lifevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Fixed in: kernel-rt
redhatend of lifevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2Fixed in: kernel-rt

Vendor Advisories (2)

microsoft2020-Nov/CVE-2020-28974Moderate

A slab-out-of-bounds read in fbcon in the Linux kernel before 5.9.7 could be used by local attackers to read privileged information or potentially crash the kernel aka CID-3c4e0dff2095. This occurs because KD_FONT_OP_COPY in drivers/tty/vt/vt.c can be used for manipulations such as font height.

Nov 10, 2020
redhatCVE-2020-28974Moderate

kernel: slab-out-of-bounds read in fbcon

Nov 9, 2020

References

cdn.kernel.org / pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.9.7
Release NotesVendor Advisory
git.kernel.org / pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit
PatchVendor Advisory
lists.debian.org / debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00015.html
Third Party Advisory
lists.debian.org / debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00027.html
Third Party Advisory
seclists.org / oss-sec/2020/q4/104
ExploitMailing ListThird Party Advisory
security.netapp.com / advisory/ntap-20210108-0003
Third Party Advisory
openwall.com / lists/oss-security/2020/11/25/1
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory