CVE-2020-36691: linux linux_kernel Uncontrolled Recursion
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2020-36691 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in linux linux_kernel. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 14.5% of scored vulnerabilities.
Not severe (CVSS 5.5, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 14 · Related 14Timeline
- 24-03-2023PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 21-02-2025Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
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.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 4 sources · 1 version- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- NVDNIST5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.24%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
15%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.24% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.
Not in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Ubuntu65 products
- linux< 5.4.0-156.173
- linux-aws< 5.4.0-1107.115
- linux-aws-5.0All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws-5.11All versions (No fix recorded)
- linux-aws-5.13All versions (No fix recorded)
Debian1 product
- linux< 5.8.7-1
Linux1 product
- linux_kernel< 5.8
3 vendors · 67 products