CVE-2020-27544Network attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via eval-based message parsing

Published Aug 11, 2023 · Updated Oct 9, 2024

Code injection in FoldingAtHome Client Advanced Control GUI allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted server messages. The parse_message function in Connection.py passes untrusted message data directly to Python eval instead of decoding it as structured data. Crafted network data must reach the GUI client connection; successful exploitation runs code with the permissions of the GUI process.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
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

Code injection in FoldingAtHome Client Advanced Control GUI allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted server messages. The parse_message function in Connection.py passes untrusted message data directly to Python eval instead of decoding it as structured data. Crafted network data must reach the GUI client connection; successful exploitation runs code with the permissions of the GUI process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27544
Published
Aug 11, 2023
Updated
Oct 9, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 9, 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

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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