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Pulse Connect Secure CVE-2020-8221

MEDIUM
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2020-07-30 support@hackerone.com
Path Traversal Ivanti Connect Secure Policy Secure Pulse Connect Secure Pulse Policy Secure Pulsesecure
4.9
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-22
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Impact

CVSS score of 4.9 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
No patch listed yet 2.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

A path traversal vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure <9.1R8 which allows an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files via the administrator web interface. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.

Affects your stack

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. A path traversal vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure <9.1R8 which allows an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files via the administrator web interface. Affected products include: Ivanti Connect Secure, Pulsesecure Pulse Connect Secure, Ivanti Policy Secure, Pulsesecure Pulse Policy Secure.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 4.9 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

A path traversal vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure <9.1R8 which allows an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files via the administrator web interface.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
2.3%
Top 19% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low
NVD CVE.org EPSS

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 2.3%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

26
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +24
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path Traversal HIGH

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_connect_secure:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
+ 4 more

More in Pulse Connect Secure

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CVE-2019-11540 CRITICAL POC
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In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure version 9.0RX before 9.0R3.4 and 8.3RX before 8.3R7.1 and Pulse Policy Secure versi
CVE-2020-11580 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Apr 06

An issue was discovered in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) through 2020-04-06. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1
CVE-2020-11582 HIGH POC
8.8 Apr 06

An issue was discovered in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) through 2020-04-06. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), t
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8.6 Oct 19

Artifex Ghostscript 9.25 and earlier allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism via vectors involving the
CVE-2020-11581 HIGH POC
8.1 Apr 06

An issue was discovered in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) through 2020-04-06. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), t
CVE-2019-11508 HIGH POC
7.2 May 08

In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) before 8.1R15.1, 8.2 before 8.2R12.1, 8.3 before 8.3R7.1, and 9.0 before 9.0R
CVE-2019-11542 HIGH POC
7.2 Apr 26

In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure version 9.0RX before 9.0R3.4, 8.3RX before 8.3R7.1, 8.2RX before 8.2R12.1, and 8.1R
CVE-2016-4787 CRITICAL
10.0 May 26

Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.2 before 8.2r1, 8.1 before 8.1r2, 8.0 before 8.0r10, and 7.4 before 7.4r13.4 allow remote a
CVE-2020-8238 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Sep 30

A vulnerability in the authenticated user web interface of Pulse Connect Secure and Pulse Policy Secure < 9.1R8.2 could

CVE-2018-6320 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 06

A vulnerability has been discovered in login.cgi in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.1RX before 8.1R12 and 8.3R
CVE-2018-5299 CRITICAL
9.8 Jan 16

A stack-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability exists in the web server in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) before 8
CVE-2015-7322 MEDIUM POC
5.0 Oct 05

The Secure Meeting (Pulse Collaboration) in Pulse Connect Secure (formerly Juniper Junos Pulse) before 7.1R22.1, 7.4, 8.

Same weakness CWE-22 – Path Traversal

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CVE-2019-3396 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2019-19781 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2020-5902 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2021-21972 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2021-40444 HIGH POC
8.8
CVE-2022-41352 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2021-27065 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2019-11510 CRITICAL POC
10.0

Same technique Path Traversal

View all
CVE-2018-20250 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2022-37042 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2025-64446 CRITICAL POC
9.8

References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44516

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