CVE-2020-14317

Local process termination via writable PID file

Published Jun 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

A signal-handler race in WildFly allows local users to make a root-run JBoss EAP init script terminate arbitrary processes. The init.d script trusts a writable /var/run/jboss-eap/ PID file and passes its process identifier to a root kill operation without protecting the file against replacement. Exploitation requires local access to modify that PID file; the bounded impact is denial of service through termination of selected processes, not confidentiality or integrity compromise.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A signal-handler race in WildFly allows local users to make a root-run JBoss EAP init script terminate arbitrary processes. The init.d script trusts a writable /var/run/jboss-eap/ PID file and passes its process identifier to a root kill operation without protecting the file against replacement. Exploitation requires local access to modify that PID file; the bounded impact is denial of service through termination of selected processes, not confidentiality or integrity compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14317
Published
Jun 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
389 Directory Server
Product
WildFly
Classifications
CWE-364, T1489
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 2, 2021CVE 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=will not be fixed

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

389 Directory Server · WildFlyversion=will not be fixed

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/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.

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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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-364Signal Handler Race Condition
T1489Service Stop

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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