kernel: out-of-bounds read/write in vgacon_scrolldelta function
Published Jun 24, 2021
5.9
MEDIUMCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.52%
Description
The vgacon subsystem in the Linux kernel before 5.8.10 mishandles software scrollback. There is a vgacon_scrolldelta out-of-bounds read, aka CID-973c096f6a85.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- < 5.8.10
Configuration 2
- n/a
Configuration 3
- n/a
Configuration 4
- n/a
Configuration 5
- n/a
Configuration 6
- n/a
Configuration 7
- n/a
Configuration 8
- n/a
Configuration 9
- n/a
Configuration 10
- n/a
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-alt
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
kernel
Affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
kernel-rt
Affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
kernel
Out of support scope
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Out of support scope | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Out of support scope | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-alt | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | kernel | Affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | kernel-rt | Affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | kernel | Out of support scope | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This flaw is rated as a having Moderate impact, because only local user with access to VGA console can trigger it (for example if booting with param "nomodeset").
Red Hat mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 2, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Table of values (12 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | 0.52% (0.00519) | 42.02th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.52% (0.00519) | 39.74th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.03% (0.00031) | 5.82th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.09% (0.00091) | 40.39th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 16, 2023 | 0.09% (0.00090) | 37.60th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00069) | 28.19th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 32.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.67% (0.01669) | 53.27th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 5.36% (0.05363) | 79.74th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 5.36% (0.05363) | 79.54th | v1 |
| Jan 5, 2022 | 1.25% (0.01247) | 69.74th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 25, 2021 | 1.04% (0.01040) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (11)
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-28097 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1880006 Issue Tracking
- https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.8.10 x_refsource_MISCPatchVendor Advisory
- https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=973c096f6a85e5b5f2a295126ba6928d9a6afd45 x_refsource_MISCPatchVendor Advisory
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=973c096f6a85e5b5f2a295126ba6928d9a6afd45
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/973c096f6a85e5b5f2a295126ba6928d9a6afd45 x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28097
- https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2020/q3/176 x_refsource_MISCExploitMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210805-0001/ x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-28097
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/09/16/1
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-28097 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1880006 | Issue Tracking | |
| https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.8.10 | x_refsource_MISCPatchVendor Advisory | |
| https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=973c096f6a85e5b5f2a295126ba6928d9a6afd45 | x_refsource_MISCPatchVendor Advisory | |
| https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=973c096f6a85e5b5f2a295126ba6928d9a6afd45 | ||
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/973c096f6a85e5b5f2a295126ba6928d9a6afd45 | x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28097 | ||
| https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2020/q3/176 | x_refsource_MISCExploitMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210805-0001/ | x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory | |
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-28097 | ||
| https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/09/16/1 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.