CVE-2020-8959

SYSTEM code execution via DLL search hijacking

Published Feb 19, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

DLL search-order hijacking in Western Digital and SanDisk SSD Dashboard installers before 3.0.2.0 allows local users to run code as SYSTEM. The installers resolve a required DLL through an uncontrolled search path, causing a supplied malicious library to load into the privileged installer process. Execution of an affected installer is required; the injected library inherits the system user's privileges, enabling local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.45%
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 Western Digital and SanDisk SSD Dashboard installers before 3.0.2.0 allows local users to run code as SYSTEM. The installers resolve a required DLL through an uncontrolled search path, causing a supplied malicious library to load into the privileged installer process. Execution of an affected installer is required; the injected library inherits the system user's privileges, enabling local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8959
Published
Feb 19, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 19, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL 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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