CVE-2020-5324

Arbitrary file overwrite via crafted symbolic link

Published Feb 21, 2020 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Arbitrary file overwrite in Dell Client Consumer and Commercial Platforms allows local users to replace files via a crafted symlink. While the Dell Firmware Update Utility runs with administrator rights, it follows a low-privileged user's symbolic link and redirects the administrator's file write to an attacker-chosen target. Exploitation requires a locally authenticated user and an administrator executing the utility during the attack window; the delivered binary payload is unaffected.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file overwrite in Dell Client Consumer and Commercial Platforms allows local users to replace files via a crafted symlink. While the Dell Firmware Update Utility runs with administrator rights, it follows a low-privileged user's symbolic link and redirects the administrator's file write to an attacker-chosen target. Exploitation requires a locally authenticated user and an administrator executing the utility during the attack window; the delivered binary payload is unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5324
Published
Feb 21, 2020
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-427, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 2020CVE 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?

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

4.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
2.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
7.1DellCVSS: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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
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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