CVE-2020-18897Public exploit

Code execution via stale cached descriptor pointer

Published Aug 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in libpff_item_tree_create_node in libpff before 20180623 allows local users to execute code via a crafted PFF file. Recursive descriptor-tree processing can evict a cached descriptor value, but the function later reads identifier fields from the stale pointer instead of preserving them before cache-changing calls. Processing attacker-supplied PST, OST, or PAB content is required; crash inputs demonstrate a parser crash, while the CVE record also reports arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.52%
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 libpff_item_tree_create_node in libpff before 20180623 allows local users to execute code via a crafted PFF file. Recursive descriptor-tree processing can evict a cached descriptor value, but the function later reads identifier fields from the stale pointer instead of preserving them before cache-changing calls. Processing attacker-supplied PST, OST, or PAB content is required; crash inputs demonstrate a parser crash, while the CVE record also reports arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-18897
Published
Aug 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 19, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

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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