CVE-2020-8094

SYSTEM code execution via untrusted DLL search

Published Jan 15, 2025 · Updated Jan 15, 2025

Untrusted search path handling in Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2020 before 1.0.16.152 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. The testinitsigs.exe utility loads a specially crafted DLL from an attacker-controlled search-path location instead of restricting resolution to trusted directories. A low-privilege local foothold and a planted DLL are required; successful execution grants full SYSTEM control of the Windows host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path handling in Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2020 before 1.0.16.152 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. The testinitsigs.exe utility loads a specially crafted DLL from an attacker-controlled search-path location instead of restricting resolution to trusted directories. A low-privilege local foothold and a planted DLL are required; successful execution grants full SYSTEM control of the Windows host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8094
Published
Jan 15, 2025
Updated
Jan 15, 2025
Vendor
Bitdefender
Product
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Classifications
CWE-426, CAPEC-641, T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 15, 2025Record 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=0 <1.0.16.152

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Bitdefender · Bitdefender Antivirus Free Editionversion=0 <1.0.16.152

Published CVSS scores

8.8BitdefenderCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8BitdefenderCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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 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-426Untrusted Search Path
CAPEC-641DLL Side-Loading
T1574.002Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading

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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