CVE-2020-1170

Privilege escalation via arbitrary file deletion

Published Jun 9, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Arbitrary file deletion in affected Microsoft antimalware products allows local users with logon access to delete system files. Microsoft has not published the vulnerable component or explained how an attacker-controlled request reaches privileged file deletion. Exploitation requires an attacker to log on first; successful abuse can remove arbitrary files and use the resulting system damage for privilege escalation.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file deletion in affected Microsoft antimalware products allows local users with logon access to delete system files. Microsoft has not published the vulnerable component or explained how an attacker-controlled request reaches privileged file deletion. Exploitation requires an attacker to log on first; successful abuse can remove arbitrary files and use the resulting system damage for privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-1170
Published
Jun 9, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection
Classifications
CWE-732, T1485, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 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=2010

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protectionversion=2010
Microsoft · Microsoft System Centerversion=2012 Endpoint Protection; version=2012 R2 Endpoint Protection; version=Endpoint Protection
Microsoft · Microsoft Security Essentialsversion=unspecified
Microsoft · Windows Defenderversion=Service Pack 1; version=Service Pack 2; version=unspecified

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1485Data Destruction
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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