CVE-2020-12891

Local privilege escalation via DLL search path

Published Feb 4, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

A DLL hijacking flaw in AMD Radeon Software before 21.4.1 allows local users to execute malicious code via the Windows PATH. The loader searches PATH locations for DLLs without constraining trusted directories, allowing an unprivileged user to plant a malicious library that a Radeon component loads. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction with the affected software; successful loading can execute attacker code with the process's privileges, including elevation where a privileged component performs the load.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A DLL hijacking flaw in AMD Radeon Software before 21.4.1 allows local users to execute malicious code via the Windows PATH. The loader searches PATH locations for DLLs without constraining trusted directories, allowing an unprivileged user to plant a malicious library that a Radeon component loads. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction with the affected software; successful loading can execute attacker code with the process's privileges, including elevation where a privileged component performs the load.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12891
Published
Feb 4, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
AMD
Product
Radeon Software
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=Radeon Driver <21.4.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

AMD · Radeon Softwareversion=Radeon Driver <21.4.1
AMD · Radeon Pro Software for Enterpriseversion=Enterprise Driver <21.Q2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NVDAV:L/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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
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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