CVE-2020-28407

Local file overwrite via symlink-following state files

Published Nov 3, 2023 · Updated Sep 12, 2024

Symlink following in swtpm before 0.4.2 and 0.5.x before 0.5.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files. State and lockfile creation opens predictable temporary paths such as TMP2-00.permall for writing without preventing symbolic-link traversal, so a crafted link redirects writes to another file. Exploitation requires local access to the configured TPM state directory and can corrupt files writable with the swtpm process's privileges, enabling privilege escalation.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in swtpm before 0.4.2 and 0.5.x before 0.5.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files. State and lockfile creation opens predictable temporary paths such as TMP2-00.permall for writing without preventing symbolic-link traversal, so a crafted link redirects writes to another file. Exploitation requires local access to the configured TPM state directory and can corrupt files writable with the swtpm process's privileges, enabling privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-28407
Published
Nov 3, 2023
Updated
Sep 12, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 12, 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

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

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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