CVE-2020-8702

Local privilege escalation via uncontrolled search path

Published Jun 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool before 4.1.5.37 allows local users to escalate privileges. Intel identifies an uncontrolled search path element but does not disclose the executable, resource, or directory involved. Exploitation requires authenticated local access, user interaction, and a high-complexity condition; successful abuse executes code with elevated privileges.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool before 4.1.5.37 allows local users to escalate privileges. Intel identifies an uncontrolled search path element but does not disclose the executable, resource, or directory involved. Exploitation requires authenticated local access, user interaction, and a high-complexity condition; successful abuse executes code with elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8702
Published
Jun 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
Product
Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool
Classifications
CWE-427, CAPEC-38, CAPEC-471, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2021CVE 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=before version 4.1.5.37

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. · Intel Processor Diagnostic Toolversion=before version 4.1.5.37

Published CVSS scores

6.7Intel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
CAPEC-471Search Order Hijacking
T1574Hijack Execution Flow

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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