# CVE-2020-8656: EyesOfNetwork - SQLi

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2020-8656 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2020-8656

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** EyesOfNetwork
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'))
- **Tags:** web_application

## Description

An issue was discovered in EyesOfNetwork 5.3. The EyesOfNetwork API 2.4.2 is prone to SQL injection, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to perform various tasks such as authentication bypass via the username field to getApiKey in include/api_functions.php.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2020-8656](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2020-8656) is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in EyesOfNetwork 5.3's API, specifically version 2.4.2, which allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the username field in getApiKey for authentication bypass and potentially gain unauthorized access. This flaw could be leveraged to compromise sensitive data, escalate privileges, or execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 15th of October 2025.

Data from the CrowdSec community indicates that exploitation of CVE-2020-8656 is highly selective and intelligence-driven. Threat actors use advanced reconnaissance and carefully choose their targets, often as part of sophisticated campaigns or advanced persistent threat operations.
Data from the CrowdSec community also indicates a gradual decrease in attacks targeting CVE-2020-8656. While still present in the wild, exploitation levels have dropped noticeably week-over-week. This may signal that the vulnerability is becoming less relevant or that defenses are improving fast enough for attackers to lose interest.

Attackers exploit the `/eonapi/getApiKey` endpoint by injecting SQL commands into the `username` parameter, often using UNION SELECT or time-based payloads, to bypass authentication or extract sensitive data.

## Timeline

- 2020-02-06: CVE Published. CVE-2020-8656 is published to NVD.
- 2025-10-15: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2020-8656 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-10-24: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2020-8656 for the first time.

## References

- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156266/EyesOfNetwork-5.3-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://github.com/EyesOfNetworkCommunity/eonapi/issues/16
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156605/EyesOfNetwork-AutoDiscovery-Target-Command-Execution.html
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-8656.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2020-8656) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2020-8656. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.