Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-20800 is a remotely reachable memory corruption flaw in Cherokee web server through version 1.2.104. A remote attacker can trigger an out-of-bounds write by sending many HTTP request headers. The strongest concern is any internet-facing Cherokee deployment, especially where CGI handling is enabled or reachable.
Executive priority
Prioritize verification for any public-facing Cherokee service. If Cherokee is not present, business exposure is likely low. If present and internet-exposed, move quickly because the issue is remote memory corruption and the sources do not provide enough detail to assume safe compensating controls.
Technical view
The reported vulnerable code path is cherokee_handler_cgi_add_env_pair in handler_cgi.c. Sources describe an out-of-bounds write caused by excessive request headers, demonstrated with repeated Host headers. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, confirmed impact beyond memory corruption, or a complete fixed-version statement.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to organizations still running Cherokee web server through 1.2.104. Risk is highest for public web services that pass requests into Cherokee CGI handling. The source bundle does not identify affected CPEs or downstream packages beyond the Gentoo advisory reference.
Exploitation context
The sources indicate public disclosure and a demonstrated request pattern, but KEV is false and the bundle contains no evidence of active exploitation in the wild. Treat internet-facing instances as urgent to verify because the flaw is remote and unauthenticated by description.
Researcher notes
Key gaps are missing CVSS, CWE, affected CPEs, and explicit upstream fixed version in the provided bundle. Analysis should stay anchored to Cherokee through 1.2.104, handler_cgi.c, and excessive request headers. Do not claim active exploitation without new evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems for Cherokee web server through version 1.2.104.
- Check Cherokee and distribution vendor guidance for fixed packages or retirement guidance.
- Restrict external access to any affected Cherokee service until remediated.
- Disable or isolate CGI handling where business operations permit.
- Monitor web logs for abnormal volumes of repeated request headers.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Cherokee is installed and serving traffic on production hosts.
- Record exact Cherokee versions and package sources for each instance.
- Review configurations to identify enabled CGI handlers or CGI-backed routes.
- Check edge and web logs for requests with unusually many headers.
- Validate remediation against vendor or distribution advisory guidance.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2019-20800 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://logicaltrust.net/blog/2019/11/cherokee.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/cherokee/webserver/issues/1224CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- GLSA-202012-09CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.