CVE-2020-10145

SYSTEM code execution via writable installation directory

Published May 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper directory permissions in Adobe ColdFusion 2016, 2018, and 2021 allow local users to execute code as SYSTEM on Windows. The installer leaves the default installation tree writable by unprivileged users, enabling placement of a crafted DLL in the service's search path. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and an installation whose ACLs were not hardened; loading the planted DLL grants SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper directory permissions in Adobe ColdFusion 2016, 2018, and 2021 allow local users to execute code as SYSTEM on Windows. The installer leaves the default installation tree writable by unprivileged users, enabling placement of a crafted DLL in the service's search path. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and an installation whose ACLs were not hardened; loading the planted DLL grants SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-10145
Published
May 27, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
ColdFusion
Classifications
CWE-276, CWE-284, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 27, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=2016
  2. Affected versionversion=2018
  3. Affected versionversion=2021

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · ColdFusionversion=2016; version=2018; version=2021

Published CVSS scores

7.8CERT/CCCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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