CVE-2020-8895

Code execution via installer DLL search order

Published Apr 21, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

DLL search-order hijacking in the Google Earth Pro Windows installer before 7.3.3 allows local users to execute arbitrary code. The executable installer searches an uncontrolled local path and loads an attacker-placed DLL before the intended library; Google has not identified the DLL. Exploitation requires a user to launch the installer after the malicious file is placed in a searched location, and the code runs with the installer's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
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

DLL search-order hijacking in the Google Earth Pro Windows installer before 7.3.3 allows local users to execute arbitrary code. The executable installer searches an uncontrolled local path and loads an attacker-placed DLL before the intended library; Google has not identified the DLL. Exploitation requires a user to launch the installer after the malicious file is placed in a searched location, and the code runs with the installer's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8895
Published
Apr 21, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Google Earth Pro
Classifications
CWE-427, CWE-426, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 21, 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=unspecified <7.3.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Google Earth Proversion=unspecified <7.3.3

Published CVSS scores

4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8Google Inc.CVSS: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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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