CVE-2020-4209Network attack vector

Authenticated arbitrary file creation via path traversal

Published May 4, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Path traversal in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.5 allows remote authenticated users to create arbitrary files. The uploadLdapCertificate endpoint accepts dot-dot path segments in a crafted URL and writes the supplied certificate outside its intended directory. Authentication is required, and successful exploitation creates an attacker-chosen file on the appliance.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability1.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.5 allows remote authenticated users to create arbitrary files. The uploadLdapCertificate endpoint accepts dot-dot path segments in a crafted URL and writes the supplied certificate outside its intended directory. Authentication is required, and successful exploitation creates an attacker-chosen file on the appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4209
Published
May 4, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 4, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=10.1.0
  2. Affected versionversion=10.1.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Spectrum Protect Plusversion=10.1.0; version=10.1.5

Published CVSS scores

5.4IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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