CVE-2020-28014Public exploit

Root-owned file clobbering via PID path override

Published May 6, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper privilege management in Exim before 4.94.2 allows local users with the exim account to overwrite root-owned files. The override_pid_file_path option accepts an attacker-chosen -oP path, and the setuid-root daemon creates or truncates that file while writing an uncontrollable PID. Access to the exim service account is required; direct exploitation can corrupt privileged files and interrupt service, while full root compromise requires chaining another flaw.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper privilege management in Exim before 4.94.2 allows local users with the exim account to overwrite root-owned files. The override_pid_file_path option accepts an attacker-chosen -oP path, and the setuid-root daemon creates or truncates that file while writing an uncontrollable PID. Access to the exim service account is required; direct exploitation can corrupt privileged files and interrupt service, while full root compromise requires chaining another flaw.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28014
Published
May 6, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-269, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:C
6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1485Data Destruction

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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