CVE-2020-12608Public exploit

SYSTEM code execution via writable update URL

Published May 7, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Code execution in SolarWinds MSP PME before 1.1.15 allows local users to execute programs as SYSTEM through a writable service configuration. Default NTFS permissions let ordinary users rewrite CacheService.xml's SISServerURL, causing the Cache Service to trust attacker-hosted update metadata and download its referenced executable. A local Users-group member must modify the file and wait for a reload or restart; the RPC Server service then runs the payload as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability22.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in SolarWinds MSP PME before 1.1.15 allows local users to execute programs as SYSTEM through a writable service configuration. Default NTFS permissions let ordinary users rewrite CacheService.xml's SISServerURL, causing the Cache Service to trust attacker-hosted update metadata and download its referenced executable. A local Users-group member must modify the file and wait for a reload or restart; the RPC Server service then runs the payload as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12608
Published
May 7, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-276, T1574.010
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.2Jens RegelCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1574.010Hijack Execution Flow: Services File Permissions Weakness

Public exploit references

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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