CVE-2016-5311

System privilege escalation via unrestricted DLL preloading

Published Jan 9, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

DLL preloading in Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud before 22.8.0.50 allows local users to gain system privileges. The Windows client loads a DLL without restricting its search path, permitting an attacker-controlled library to run in the client's privileged context. Local access and user interaction are required; successful exploitation executes attacker code with system privileges and can fully control the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL preloading in Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud before 22.8.0.50 allows local users to gain system privileges. The Windows client loads a DLL without restricting its search path, permitting an attacker-controlled library to run in the client's privileged context. Local access and user interaction are required; successful exploitation executes attacker code with system privileges and can fully control the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2016-5311
Published
Jan 9, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Symantec
Product
Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud
Classifications
CWE-427, CAPEC-38, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 9, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=before 22.8.0.50

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Symantec · Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloudversion=before 22.8.0.50

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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