CVE-2020-6971

Local privilege escalation

Published Mar 5, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in Emerson ValveLink 12.0.264 through 13.4.118 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. CISA attributes the escalation to insecure configuration parameters but does not identify the affected parameter or the privileged operation it controls. A local, low-privileged trusted insider can exploit the flaw without user interaction and gain code execution on the affected Windows computer.

CVSS severity7.8
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

Improper access control in Emerson ValveLink 12.0.264 through 13.4.118 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. CISA attributes the escalation to insecure configuration parameters but does not identify the affected parameter or the privileged operation it controls. A local, low-privileged trusted insider can exploit the flaw without user interaction and gain code execution on the affected Windows computer.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-6971
Published
Mar 5, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Emerson Electric Co.
Product
Fisher ValveLink Software
Classifications
CWE-269, CWE-284, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 5, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=v12.0.264 to v13.4.118

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Emerson Electric Co. · Fisher ValveLink Softwareversion=v12.0.264 to v13.4.118

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
CWE-284Improper Access Control
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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