CVE-2020-24742

Arbitrary code execution via working-directory plugin loading

Published Aug 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Uncontrolled plugin loading in Qt 5.6.0 through 5.12.6 and 5.13.0 through 5.13.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code. QPluginLoader resolves a relative plugin name against the process working directory, allowing a crafted library there to replace the intended plugin. Exploitation requires placement of the library in that directory and user interaction that launches an affected Qt application from it; the code inherits the application's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled plugin loading in Qt 5.6.0 through 5.12.6 and 5.13.0 through 5.13.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code. QPluginLoader resolves a relative plugin name against the process working directory, allowing a crafted library there to replace the intended plugin. Exploitation requires placement of the library in that directory and user interaction that launches an affected Qt application from it; the code inherits the application's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-24742
Published
Aug 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 9, 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

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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