CVE-2020-7070: PHP parses encoded cookie names so malicious `__Host-` cookies can be sent
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2020-7070 is a medium (CVSS 5.3) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in canonical ubuntu_linux. EPSS estimates a 5.03% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 92.2% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
Not severe (CVSS 4.3, network access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 13 · Related 10Timeline
- 02-10-2020PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 16-09-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
In PHP versions 7.2.x below 7.2.34, 7.3.x below 7.3.23 and 7.4.x below 7.4.11, when PHP is processing incoming HTTP cookie values, the cookie names are url-decoded. This may lead to cookies with prefixes like __Host confused with cookies that decode to such prefix, thus leading to an attacker being able to forge cookie which is supposed to be secure. See also CVE-2020-8184 for more information.
CVSS metrics
6 scores · 5 sources · 2 versions- CVE.orgCNA4.3MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:NDiffers
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated4.3MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:NDiffers
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated5.3MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
- OSV · AlpineEcosystem advisory · calculated5.3MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
EPSS trend
Probability
5.03%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
92%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 5.03% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
1 foundExploit Reference (hackerone.com)
Maturity: unknown
Weaknesses
CWE · root cause- CWE-20Improper Input ValidationThe product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
- CWE-565Reliance on Cookies without Validation and Integrity CheckingThe product relies on the existence or values of cookies when performing security-critical operations, but it does not properly ensure that the setting is valid for the associated user.
Affected systems
Known conditions: network-reachable, no authentication, user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Suse5 products
- php53&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3< 5.3.17-112.93.1
- php53&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS< 5.3.17-112.93.1
- php5&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12< 5.5.14-109.82.1
- php7&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12< 7.0.7-50.102.1
- php7&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5< 7.0.7-50.102.1
Ubuntu4 products
- php5< 5.5.9+dfsg-1ubuntu4.29+esm13
- php7.0< 7.0.33-0ubuntu0.16.04.16
- php7.2< 7.2.24-0ubuntu0.18.04.7
- php7.4< 7.4.3-4ubuntu2.4
Debian3 products
- php7.0< 7.0.33-0+deb9u10
- php7.4< 7.4.11-1
- debian_linuxEOL9.0 | 10.0
Alpine1 product
- php7< 7.3.23-r0 | < 7.4.11-r0
Canonical1 product
- ubuntu_linuxEOL12.04 | 14.04 | 16.04 | 18.04 | 20.04
Fedoraproject1 product
- fedoraEOL31 | 32 | 33
Mageia1 product
- php< 7.3.23-1.mga7
Netapp1 product
Opensuse1 product
- leapEOL15.1 | 15.2
Php1 product
- php≥ 7.2.0, < 7.2.34 | ≥ 7.3.0, < 7.3.23 | ≥ 7.4.0, < 7.4.11
Php group1 product
- php≥ 7.3.x, < 7.3.23 | ≥ 7.4.x, < 7.4.11 | ≥ 7.2.x, < 7.2.34
Tenable1 product
- tenable.sc< 5.19.0
12 vendors · 21 products
References
33 links
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/10/msg00008.htmlMailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party Advisory- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00045.htmlVendor AdvisoryX Refsource SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00067.htmlVendor AdvisoryX Refsource SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory