What is CVE-2020-8816?

CVE-2020-8816 is a high-severity vulnerability in Pi-Hole, classified under OS Command Injection. CVSS score: 7.2/10. Published 2020-05-29.

How severe is CVE-2020-8816?

High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.2 out of 10.

Is CVE-2020-8816 known to be exploited?

Yes. CVE-2020-8816 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-12-10), indicating it is being actively exploited. 16 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.

RCE in Pi-Hole

CVE-2020-8816

Pi-hole Web v4.3.2 (aka AdminLTE) allows Remote Code Execution by privileged dashboard users via a crafted DHCP static lease.

Vulnerability class: Command Injection (OS Command Injection)

Published 2020-05-29 · last modified 2026-06-17.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.2 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.782 (99.6th percentile), scored 2026-10-18.

High probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — patch promptly. 100th percentile — 99.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.782 · newest: 0.782 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Pi-Hole

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-78 — OS Command Injection

CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)

This CVE is on the CISA KEV catalog, added on 2021-12-10. CISA KEV inclusion means CISA has confirmed in-the-wild exploitation; US federal agencies are required to remediate within a published due date.

BOD 22-01 due date: 2022-06-10.

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

github.com/pi-hole/AdminLTE/commits/master (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
packetstormsecurity.com/files/157861/Pi-Hole-4.3.2-DHCP-MAC-OS-Command-Executio… (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
natedotred.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/cve-2020-8816-pi-hole-remote-code-execution/ (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, Broken Link)
twitter.com/Nate_Kappa/status/1243900213665902592 (Broken Link, Press/Media Coverage)
github.com/pi-hole/AdminLTE/releases/tag/v4.3.3 (Third Party Advisory, Release Notes)
github.com/pi-hole/AdminLTE/pull/1165 (Patch, Third Party Advisory)
packetstormsecurity.com/files/158737/Pi-hole-4.3.2-Remote-Code-Execution.html (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 (US Government Resource)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-8816?: CVE-2020-8816 is a high-severity vulnerability in Pi-Hole, classified under OS Command Injection. CVSS score: 7.2/10. Published 2020-05-29.
How severe is CVE-2020-8816?: High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.2 out of 10.
Is CVE-2020-8816 known to be exploited?: Yes. CVE-2020-8816 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-12-10), indicating it is being actively exploited. 16 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.