CVE-2020-8884Network attack vector

SYSTEM code execution via named-pipe deserialization

Published Jan 6, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper deserialization in Proofpoint Insider Threat Management Windows Agent before 7.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute code as SYSTEM. The rcdsvc endpoint service improperly deserializes attacker-controlled data received over Windows named pipes. Valid credentials on the Windows system are required; successful exploitation runs the supplied code with full SYSTEM privileges, while Mac and Linux agents are unaffected.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability4.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper deserialization in Proofpoint Insider Threat Management Windows Agent before 7.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute code as SYSTEM. The rcdsvc endpoint service improperly deserializes attacker-controlled data received over Windows named pipes. Valid credentials on the Windows system are required; successful exploitation runs the supplied code with full SYSTEM privileges, while Mac and Linux agents are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8884
Published
Jan 6, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-502, T1210, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 6, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8ProofpointCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services
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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