CVE-2020-8473

Privilege escalation via weak folder ACLs

Published Apr 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect folder permissions in ABB System 800xA Base 6.1 and earlier allow local users to execute arbitrary code through writable system files. Weak ACLs on folders used by the file-distribution component permit low-privileged accounts to read, add, delete, or modify system and application files. Exploitation requires an authenticated node account and can elevate privileges, corrupt engineering applications, or stop the affected node.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect folder permissions in ABB System 800xA Base 6.1 and earlier allow local users to execute arbitrary code through writable system files. Weak ACLs on folders used by the file-distribution component permit low-privileged accounts to read, add, delete, or modify system and application files. Exploitation requires an authenticated node account and can elevate privileges, corrupt engineering applications, or stop the affected node.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8473
Published
Apr 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
ABB
Product
System 800xA Base
Classifications
CWE-732, T1574.010
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 28, 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=6.1 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ABB · System 800xA Baseversion=6.1 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.1ABBCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:W/RC:C
7.3ABBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:C/A:C

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-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1574.010Services File Permissions Weakness

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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