CVE-2020-11080 LOW

CVE-2020-11080: Denial of service in nghttp2

Vendor Nghttp2
Product nghttp2
Weakness CWE-707
Published June 3, 2020
Last update June 9, 2025

CVSS base score

3.7/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity High
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity None

CVSS vector

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

What the vulnerability does

01Description

In nghttp2 before version 1.41.0, the overly large HTTP/2 SETTINGS frame payload causes denial of service. The proof of concept attack involves a malicious client constructing a SETTINGS frame with a length of 14,400 bytes (2400 individual settings entries) over and over again. The attack causes the CPU to spike at 100%. nghttp2 v1.41.0 fixes this vulnerability. There is a workaround to this vulnerability. Implement nghttp2_on_frame_recv_callback callback, and if received frame is SETTINGS frame and the number of settings entries are large (e.g., > 32), then drop the connection.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

June 3, 2020 CVE published
June 9, 2025 Record updated