CVE-2020-11005

Local plaintext disclosure via exposed NCryptDecrypt method

Published Apr 14, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in SeppPenner WindowsHello before 1.0.4 allows local users to decrypt protected text without Windows Hello. The library exposes its static NCryptDecrypt path to other executables, which can use it on ciphertext without invoking the intended Windows Hello authentication flow. A local executable must obtain ciphertext produced by an affected consuming application; successful use reveals its plaintext without the biometric or PIN check.

CVSS severity5.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in SeppPenner WindowsHello before 1.0.4 allows local users to decrypt protected text without Windows Hello. The library exposes its static NCryptDecrypt path to other executables, which can use it on ciphertext without invoking the intended Windows Hello authentication flow. A local executable must obtain ciphertext produced by an affected consuming application; successful use reveals its plaintext without the biometric or PIN check.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-11005
Published
Apr 14, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
SeppPenner
Product
WindowsHello
Classifications
CWE-288, CWE-327, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 14, 2020CVE 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=< 1.0.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SeppPenner · WindowsHelloversion=< 1.0.4

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
5.1GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-288Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CWE-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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