CVE-2020-5357

Arbitrary file overwrite via symlink following

Published May 28, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Arbitrary file overwrite in Dell Dock Firmware Update Utilities allows local users to overwrite files through a crafted symlink. Dell has not identified the temporary file or file-operation locus, but the administrator-run utility follows an attacker-controlled symlink when writing an update file. A low-privileged local account must prepare the link and wait for an administrator to run the utility; the overwrite can alter or disrupt host files, while the delivered firmware payload is unaffected.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.26%
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 Dock Firmware Update Utilities allows local users to overwrite files through a crafted symlink. Dell has not identified the temporary file or file-operation locus, but the administrator-run utility follows an attacker-controlled symlink when writing an update file. A low-privileged local account must prepare the link and wait for an administrator to run the utility; the overwrite can alter or disrupt host files, while the delivered firmware payload is unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5357
Published
May 28, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Dell
Product
Dell Client Platform BIOS
Classifications
CWE-427, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 28, 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=unspecified <1.0.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell · Dell Client Platform BIOSversion=unspecified <1.0.8

Published CVSS scores

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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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