CVE-2020-5820

Local SYSTEM code execution via AvHostPlugin buffer underwrite

Published Feb 11, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

An out-of-bounds write in Symantec Endpoint Protection and SEP SBE before 14.2 RU2 MP1 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. AvHostPlugin.dll fails to validate user-supplied data before writing, permitting a write before the start of an allocated buffer. Exploitation requires the ability to run low-privileged code on a Windows endpoint and results in arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

An out-of-bounds write in Symantec Endpoint Protection and SEP SBE before 14.2 RU2 MP1 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. AvHostPlugin.dll fails to validate user-supplied data before writing, permitting a write before the start of an allocated buffer. Exploitation requires the ability to run low-privileged code on a Windows endpoint and results in arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5820
Published
Feb 11, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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