CVE-2020-4717

Protected-path file write via installer symlink following

Published Mar 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Link-following in the IBM SPSS Modeler Subscription installer allows local users to write arbitrary files to protected Windows paths. The Windows MSI and installation script follow attacker-created symbolic links instead of constraining writes to the intended destination. Exploitation requires local symbolic-link creation and an installation run, and the bounded result is arbitrary file write rather than disclosure or service interruption.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in the IBM SPSS Modeler Subscription installer allows local users to write arbitrary files to protected Windows paths. The Windows MSI and installation script follow attacker-created symbolic links instead of constraining writes to the intended destination. Exploitation requires local symbolic-link creation and an installation run, and the bounded result is arbitrary file write rather than disclosure or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4717
Published
Mar 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM SPSS Modeler
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=Subscription

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

IBM · IBM SPSS Modelerversion=Subscription

Published CVSS scores

5.4IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/UI:N/I:H/A:N/PR:N/S:U/C:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
6.2IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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