CVE-2020-1752

Local code execution via freed path pointer

Published Apr 30, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in GNU C Library glob() 2.14 through 2.31 allows local users to execute code through a crafted tilde-expanded path. In posix/glob.c, end_name points inside the heap-allocated dirname buffer, but tilde expansion frees dirname before copying from end_name into the replacement path. Exploitation requires a path large enough to force heap allocation and a program that processes the attacker-controlled pattern with glob().

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in GNU C Library glob() 2.14 through 2.31 allows local users to execute code through a crafted tilde-expanded path. In posix/glob.c, end_name points inside the heap-allocated dirname buffer, but tilde expansion frees dirname before copying from end_name into the replacement path. Exploitation requires a path large enough to force heap allocation and a program that processes the attacker-controlled pattern with glob().

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-1752
Published
Apr 30, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
GNU Project
Product
GNU C Library
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 30, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=Affected: versions 2.14 and later
  2. Affected versionversion=Fixed: version 2.32

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GNU Project · GNU C Libraryversion=Affected: versions 2.14 and later; version=Fixed: version 2.32

Published CVSS scores

3.7NIST NVDAV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.0Red Hat, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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