CVE-2020-27228

SYSTEM privilege escalation via writable service binary

Published Apr 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect default permissions in OpenClinic GA 5.173.3 allow local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by replacing a service binary. The Windows installer grants Authenticated Users change access to C:\projects\openclinic\mysql5\bin\mysqld.exe, which OpenClinicMySQL executes as NT SYSTEM. Any locally authenticated Windows account can replace the executable; privilege escalation occurs when the service restarts.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect default permissions in OpenClinic GA 5.173.3 allow local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by replacing a service binary. The Windows installer grants Authenticated Users change access to C:\projects\openclinic\mysql5\bin\mysqld.exe, which OpenClinicMySQL executes as NT SYSTEM. Any locally authenticated Windows account can replace the executable; privilege escalation occurs when the service restarts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27228
Published
Apr 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
OpenClinic GA Project
Product
OpenClinic GA
Classifications
CWE-276, T1574.010
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 13, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=OpenClinic GA 5.173.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenClinic GA Project · OpenClinic GAversion=OpenClinic GA 5.173.3

Published CVSS scores

8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.

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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-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1574.010Services File Permissions Weakness

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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