CVE-2020-10616Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

SYSTEM code execution via unqualified DLL imports

Published May 14, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Uncontrolled DLL search paths in Opto 22 SoftPAC 9.6 and earlier allow attackers to execute code when the Windows service starts. The service executable imports multiple DLLs without absolute paths, allowing Windows search-order resolution to select attacker-replaced libraries. Exploitation requires placing a malicious DLL and inducing a service start; the loaded code runs as SYSTEM and can control the host.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled DLL search paths in Opto 22 SoftPAC 9.6 and earlier allow attackers to execute code when the Windows service starts. The service executable imports multiple DLLs without absolute paths, allowing Windows search-order resolution to select attacker-replaced libraries. Exploitation requires placing a malicious DLL and inducing a service start; the loaded code runs as SYSTEM and can control the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-10616
Published
May 14, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Opto 22
Product
SoftPAC
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 14, 2020Exploitation reportedTeam82 laboratory SoftPAC exploit chain
  2. May 14, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. 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=SoftPAC Project Version 9.6 and prior

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Opto 22 · SoftPACversion=SoftPAC Project Version 9.6 and prior

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5CISACVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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