CVE-2020-15437

Name: CVE-2020-15437
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-11-23T21:15:11.89+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 4.4/10EPSS 0.44%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-15437 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 4.4/10 on the CVSS scale. The Linux kernel before version 5.8 is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference in drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c:serial8250_isa_init_ports() that allows local users to cause a denial of service by using the p->serial_in pointer which uninitialized.. EPSS estimates a 0.44% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The Linux kernel before version 5.8 is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference in drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c:serial8250_isa_init_ports() that allows local users to cause a denial of service by using the p->serial_in pointer which uninitialized.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

4.4/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.44%

34.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-476

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	< 5.8

References

https://lkml.org/lkml/2020/7/21/80Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://lkml.org/lkml/2020/7/21/80Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Nov 23, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-15437?

How severe is CVE-2020-15437?

CVE-2020-15437 has a CVSS score of 4.4/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.44% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-15437?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2020-15437?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

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Source: NVD / NIST