CVE-2020-14005Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command injection via ExecuteExternalProgram

Published Jun 24, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in SolarWinds Orion 2019.4-era builds allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code through a defined event. The ExecuteExternalProgram method passes a user-supplied string to a system call without adequate validation, enabling command injection. Exploitation requires Orion alert-management privileges; successful attacks execute code in the service context and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability14.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in SolarWinds Orion 2019.4-era builds allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code through a defined event. The ExecuteExternalProgram method passes a user-supplied string to a system call without adequate validation, enabling command injection. Exploitation requires Orion alert-management privileges; successful attacks execute code in the service context and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14005
Published
Jun 24, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1059.005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 24, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 13, 2020Exploitation reportedSUNBURST Orion campaign
  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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1059.005Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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