CVE-2020-11612: The ZlibDecoders in Netty 4.1.x before 4.1.46 allow for unbounded memory allocation while decoding a ZlibEncoded byte stream.
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 33/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 9.1% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 95.3% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: netty (Debian:10) 1:4.1.33-1+deb10u2; netty (Debian:12) 1:4.1.48-1; netty (Debian:9) 1:4.1.7-2+deb9u2.
- Mentioned 5 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Low priority for now. Upgrade to netty (Debian:10) 1:4.1.33-1+deb10u2; netty (Debian:12) 1:4.1.48-1; netty (Debian:9) 1:4.1.7-2+deb9u2 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
The ZlibDecoders in Netty 4.1.x before 4.1.46 allow for unbounded memory allocation while decoding a ZlibEncoded byte stream. An attacker could send a large ZlibEncoded byte stream to the Netty server, forcing the server to allocate all of its free memory to a single decoder.
- Published
- Apr 7, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 9.1% · 95th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-770
Report tools
Action score
33
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 3 / 30 · 9.1%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| netty | netty | cpe:2.3:a:netty:netty |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| netapp | oncommand api services | cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_api_services |
| netapp | oncommand insight | cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_insight |
| netapp | oncommand workflow automation | cpe:2.3:a:netapp:oncommand_workflow_automation |
| oracle | communications brm - elastic charging engine | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_brm_-_elastic_charging_engine |
| oracle | communications cloud native core service communication proxy | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_cloud_native_core_service_communication_proxy |
| oracle | communications design studio | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_design_studio |
| oracle | nosql database | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:nosql_database |
| oracle | siebel core - server framework | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:siebel_core_-_server_framework |
| oracle | webcenter portal | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:webcenter_portal |
and 1 more
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- debian debian linux10.0
- debian debian linux9.0
- fedoraproject fedora33
- netapp oncommand api servicesall versions
- netapp oncommand insightall versions
- netapp oncommand workflow automationall versions
- netty netty4.1 and later · before 4.1.46
- oracle communications brm - elastic charging engine12.0.0.3
- oracle communications cloud native core service communication proxy1.5.2
- oracle communications design studio7.4.2
- oracle communications messaging server8.1
- oracle nosql databasebefore 20.3
- oracle siebel core - server frameworkbefore 21.5
- oracle webcenter portal12.2.1.3.0
- oracle webcenter portal12.2.1.4.0
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:10 | netty | before 1:4.1.33-1+deb10u2 | 1:4.1.33-1+deb10u2 |
| Debian:12 | netty | before 1:4.1.48-1 | 1:4.1.48-1 |
| Debian:9 | netty | before 1:4.1.7-2+deb9u2 | 1:4.1.7-2+deb9u2 |
| Maven | io.netty:netty-handler | from 4.1.0 · before 4.1.46 | 4.1.46 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | netty | before 4.1.60-1.4 | 4.1.60-1.4 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | python-qpid-proton | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | python-qpid-proton-docs | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-cpp | before 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-cpp-client | before 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-cpp-client-devel | before 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-cpp-client-docs | before 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-cpp-debuginfo | before 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-c | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-c-devel | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-c-docs | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-cpp | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-cpp-devel | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-cpp-docs | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-debuginfo | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | qpid-proton-tests | before 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el7 | python-qpid-proton | before 0:0.31.0-3.el7 | 0:0.31.0-3.el7 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el7 | python-qpid-proton-docs | before 0:0.31.0-3.el7 | 0:0.31.0-3.el7 |
| Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el7 | qpid-cpp | before 0:1.36.0-30.el7amq | 0:1.36.0-30.el7amq |
+96
Same product
netty: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-47691Netty has Insufficient Bailiwick Validation for NS Records40Plan
- CVE-2026-45674Netty Vulnerable to DNS Cache Poisoning via Missing Bailiwick Checks in CNAME Records40Plan
- CVE-2019-20445HttpObjectDecoder.java in Netty before 4.1.44 allows a Content-Length header to be accompanied by a second Content-Length header, or by a…40Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2020-7238Jan 27, 2020 · Netty 4.1.43.Final allows HTTP Request Smuggling because it mishandles Transfer-Encoding whitespace (such as a…31Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2019-20444Jan 29, 2020 · HttpObjectDecoder.java in Netty before 4.1.44 allows an HTTP header that lacks a colon, which might be interpreted as a separate header…39Monitor
- Later →CVE-2021-21290Feb 8, 2021 · Local Information Disclosure Vulnerability in Netty on Unix-Like systems due temporary files23Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:netty | 1:4.1.48-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:io.netty:netty-handler | 4.1.46 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:netty | 4.1.60-1.4 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:python-qpid-proton | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:python-qpid-proton-docs | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-cpp | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-cpp-client | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-cpp-client-devel | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-cpp-client-docs | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-cpp-debuginfo | 0:1.36.0-30.el6_10amq · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-proton | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-proton-c | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-proton-c-devel | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-proton-c-docs | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:qpid-proton-cpp | 0:0.31.0-3.el6_10 · Red Hat:a_mq_clients:2::el6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:netty | 4.1.44.Final-150300.4.3.2 · SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-21-0375 · May 4, 2021(IBM Güvenlik Bülteni Yayınladı)
- TR-21-0331 · Apr 21, 2021(Oracle Güvenlik Uyarısı Yayınladı)
- TR-21-0036 · Jan 14, 2021(IBM Ürünlerine İlişkin Güvenlik Bülteni Yayınlandı)
- TR-20-797 · Sep 30, 2020(IBM Cloud Private Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
- TR-20-650 · Aug 27, 2020(IBM Ürünleri Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-770 · Allocation of Resources Without Limits or ThrottlingCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- FloodingCAPEC-125likelihood: High · Medium
- Excessive AllocationCAPEC-130likelihood: Medium · Medium
- XML Ping of the DeathCAPEC-147likelihood: Low · Medium
- Exponential Data ExpansionCAPEC-197likelihood: High · Medium
- Serialized Data Parameter BlowupCAPEC-229likelihood: High · High
- Serialized Data with Nested PayloadsCAPEC-230likelihood: Medium · High
- Oversized Serialized Data PayloadsCAPEC-231likelihood: Medium · High
- HTTP DoSCAPEC-469Low
ATT&CK techniques
- Network Denial of Service:Direct Network FloodT1498.001
- Network Denial of Service:Reflection AmplificationT1498.002
- Endpoint Denial of ServiceT1499
- Endpoint Denial of Service: OS Exhaustion FloodT1499.001
- Endpoint Denial of Service:Service Exhaustion FloodT1499.002
- Endpoint Denial of Service:Application Exhaustion FloodT1499.003
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (19 more)Show less
- github.com/netty/netty/issues/6168
- github.com/netty/netty/pull/9924
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r14446ed58208cb6d97b6faa6ebf145f1cf2c70c0886c0c133f4d3b6f%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r255ed239e65d0596812362adc474bee96caf7ba042c7ad2f3c62cec7%40%3Cissues.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r281882fdf9ea89aac02fd2f92786693a956aac2ce9840cce87c7df6b%40%3Ccommits.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2958e4d49ee046e1e561e44fdc114a0d2285927501880f15852a9b53%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r31424427cc6d7db46beac481bdeed9a823fc20bb1b9deede38557f71%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3195127e46c87a680b5d1d3733470f83b886bfd3b890c50df718bed1%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r3ea4918d20d0c1fa26cac74cc7cda001d8990bc43473d062867ef70d%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4a7e4e23bd84ac24abf30ab5d5edf989c02b555e1eca6a2f28636692%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4f4a14d6a608db447b725ec2e96c26ac9664d83cd879aa21e2cfeb24%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5030cd8ea5df1e64cf6a7b633eff145992fbca03e8bfc687cd2427ab%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5a0b1f0b1c3bcd66f5177fbd6f6de2d0f8cae24a13ab2669f274251a%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5b1ad61552591b747cd31b3a908d5ff2e8f2a8a6847583dd6b7b1ee7%40%3Cissues.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r69b23a94d4ae45394cabae012dd1f4a963996869c44c478eb1c61082%40%3Ccommits.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7641ee788e1eb1be4bb206a7d15f8a64ec6ef23e5ec6132d5a567695%40%3Cnotifications.zookeeper.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7790b9d99696d9eddce8a8c96f13bb68460984294ea6fea3800143e4%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7836bbdbe95c99d4d725199f0c169927d4e87ba57e4beeeb699c097a%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r832724df393a7ef25ca4c7c2eb83ad2d6c21c74569acda5233f9f1ec%40%3Ccommits.pulsar.apache.org%3E
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.