CVE-2020-7252

Malicious file execution via unquoted service path

Published Feb 17, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Unquoted service path handling in McAfee DXL Broker 5.0.x through 5.0.2 and 6.0.x through 6.0.0 allows local users to execute files. The Windows service configuration leaves an executable path containing spaces unquoted, so Windows can resolve a carefully named executable earlier in the path instead of the broker binary. A local user must have high privileges, place the crafted executable, and induce service execution; successful exploitation runs that file or interrupts the service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unquoted service path handling in McAfee DXL Broker 5.0.x through 5.0.2 and 6.0.x through 6.0.0 allows local users to execute files. The Windows service configuration leaves an executable path containing spaces unquoted, so Windows can resolve a carefully named executable earlier in the path instead of the broker binary. A local user must have high privileges, place the crafted executable, and induce service execution; successful exploitation runs that file or interrupts the service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-7252
Published
Feb 17, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
McAfee
Product
Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Broker
Classifications
CWE-428, CWE-250, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 17, 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=5.0.x <=5.0.2
  2. Affected versionversion=6.0.x <=6.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

McAfee · Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Brokerversion=5.0.x <=5.0.2; version=6.0.x <=6.0.0

Published CVSS scores

4.2TrellixCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
1.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/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 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-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
CWE-250Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
T1574.009Hijack Execution Flow: Path Interception by Unquoted Path

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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