CVE-2020-20269Network attack vector

Remote code execution via malicious Markdown

Published Jan 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Code execution in Caret Editor before 4.0.0-rc22 allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript through a specially crafted Markdown document. Caret processes the crafted Markdown and runs attacker-supplied JavaScript in the editor context. Opening the document is required; the disclosed consequence is arbitrary code execution, while further access depends on the editor process context.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability4.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in Caret Editor before 4.0.0-rc22 allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript through a specially crafted Markdown document. Caret processes the crafted Markdown and runs attacker-supplied JavaScript in the editor context. Opening the document is required; the disclosed consequence is arbitrary code execution, while further access depends on the editor process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-20269
Published
Jan 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 22, 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 vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript

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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