CVE-2020-5953

SMM code execution via untrusted runtime pointer

Published Feb 3, 2022 · Updated Aug 11, 2026

Privilege escalation in InsydeH2O UEFI firmware on affected Siemens industrial PCs allows local users to execute code in SMM. The SWSMI handler dereferences the gRT runtime-services pointer outside SMRAM and invokes GetVariable through that untrusted address. Attackers must already execute untrusted privileged code on the device; successful exploitation crosses from ring 0 into SMM at ring -2.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in InsydeH2O UEFI firmware on affected Siemens industrial PCs allows local users to execute code in SMM. The SWSMI handler dereferences the gRT runtime-services pointer outside SMRAM and invokes GetVariable through that untrusted address. Attackers must already execute untrusted privileged code on the device; successful exploitation crosses from ring 0 into SMM at ring -2.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5953
Published
Feb 3, 2022
Updated
Aug 11, 2026
Vendor
Siemens
Product
SIMATIC IPC477E PRO
Classifications
CWE-822, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 11, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <V21.01.17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Siemens · SIMATIC IPC477E PROversion=0 <V21.01.17
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC847Eversion=0 <V25.02.12
Siemens · SIMATIC Field PG M5version=0 <V22.01.10
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC377Gversion=0 <V28.01.04
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC627Eversion=0 <V25.02.12
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC277Gversion=0 <V28.01.04
Siemens · SIMATIC ITP1000version=0 <V23.01.10
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC677Eversion=0 <V25.02.12
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC127E Industrial Edge Deviceversion=0 <V27.01.09
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC427E Industrial Edge Deviceversion=0 <V21.01.17
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC477Eversion=0 <V21.01.17
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC277G PROversion=0 <V28.01.04
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC227G Industrial Edge Deviceversion=0 <V28.01.04
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC327Gversion=0 <V28.01.04
Siemens · SIMATIC IPC647Eversion=0 <V25.02.12
Siemens · SIPLUS IPC427Eversion=0 <V21.01.17
Siemens · SIMATIC Field PG M6version=0 <V26.01.13

Published CVSS scores

7.5Siemens ProductCERTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-822Untrusted Pointer Dereference
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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