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Pulse Secure Desktop Client CVE-2020-8240

HIGH
2020-10-28 support@hackerone.com
Information Disclosure Microsoft Ivanti Pulse Secure Desktop Client Pulsesecure
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Impact

CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client < 9.1R9 allows a restricted user on an endpoint machine can use system-level privileges if the Embedded Browser is configured with Credential. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client < 9.1R9 allows a restricted user on an endpoint machine can use system-level privileges if the Embedded Browser is configured with Credential Provider. This vulnerability only affects Windows PDC if the Embedded Browser is configured with the Credential Provider. Affected products include: Pulsesecure Pulse Secure Desktop Client.

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

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

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

DescriptionNVD

A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client < 9.1R9 allows a restricted user on an endpoint machine can use system-level privileges if the Embedded Browser is configured with Credential Provider. This vulnerability only affects Windows PDC if the Embedded Browser is configured with the Credential Provider.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 76% 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 HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
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
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information Disclosure MEDIUM

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:*:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r1:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r2:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r3:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r3.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r5:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r6:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r7:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r7.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r8:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r8.2:*:*:*:windows:*:*

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A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client (Linux) < 9.1R9 could allow local attackers to escalate privilege. Ra
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A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client < 9.1R9 could allow the attacker to perform a MITM Attack if end user
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The Pulse Secure Desktop (macOS) 5.3RX before 5.3R5 and 9.0R1 has a Format String Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (

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CVE-2025-24813 CRITICAL POC
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References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44601

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