CVE-2020-3956Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated remote code execution via expression injection

Published May 20, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Code injection in VMware Cloud Director 10.0.x before 10.0.0.2 and earlier branches allows remote authenticated users to execute code through management interfaces. Cloud Director improperly evaluates attacker-controlled expression-language input received through its HTML5/Flex UIs, API Explorer, and APIs. An authenticated actor must reach a management endpoint; successful exploitation can execute arbitrary code remotely with the service's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability21.10%
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 VMware Cloud Director 10.0.x before 10.0.0.2 and earlier branches allows remote authenticated users to execute code through management interfaces. Cloud Director improperly evaluates attacker-controlled expression-language input received through its HTML5/Flex UIs, API Explorer, and APIs. An authenticated actor must reach a management endpoint; successful exploitation can execute arbitrary code remotely with the service's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-3956
Published
May 20, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
VMware
Product
VMware Cloud Director
Classifications
CWE-917, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 20, 2020CVE 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=VMware Cloud Director 10.0.x before 10.0.0.2, 9.7.0.x before 9.7.0.5, 9.5.0.x before 9.5.0.6, and 9.1.0.x before 9.1.0.4.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VMware · VMware Cloud Directorversion=VMware Cloud Director 10.0.x before 10.0.0.2, 9.7.0.x before 9.7.0.5, 9.5.0.x before 9.5.0.6, and 9.1.0.x before 9.1.0.4.

Published CVSS scores

8.8VMwareCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-917Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Expression Language Statement
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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