CVE-2020-4469Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated root command execution via hostname injection

Published Jun 15, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

OS command injection in the hostname API of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.5 allows remote attackers to execute commands as root. The unauthenticated POST endpoint /emi/api/hostname single-quotes the supplied hostname but fails to neutralize embedded quotes and shell metacharacters before invoking a system command. Network access to the appliance console on TCP port 8090 is sufficient; successful exploitation grants full control of the Linux appliance.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability13.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in the hostname API of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.5 allows remote attackers to execute commands as root. The unauthenticated POST endpoint /emi/api/hostname single-quotes the supplied hostname but fails to neutralize embedded quotes and shell metacharacters before invoking a system command. Network access to the appliance console on TCP port 8090 is sufficient; successful exploitation grants full control of the Linux appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4469
Published
Jun 15, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 15, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

10.0TenableAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
9.8IBMCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell
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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