What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-8956?

CVE-2020-8956 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 3.3 (Low). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.2%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2020-8956?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2020-8956. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 1.2%.

Pulse Secure Desktop CVE-2020-8956

LOW

Weak Password Requirements (CWE-521)

2020-10-27 cve@mitre.org

Information Disclosure Microsoft Ivanti Brute Force Pulse Secure Desktop Pulsesecure

3.3

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-521 OWASP Top 10:2025 A07:2025 - Authentication Failures ASVS 5.0 V6 - Authentication Password strength requirements
Impact	CVSS score of 3.3 (LOW). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	Successful exploitation could compromise the low-severity affected system.

Monitor Track and reassess. Why: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9).

No patch listed yet 1.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 and 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows reveals users' passwords if Save Settings is enabled. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and 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.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-521. Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 and 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows reveals users' passwords if Save Settings is enabled. Affected products include: Pulsesecure Pulse Secure Desktop. Version information: before 9.0.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 3.3 LOW

AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

None

DescriptionNVD

Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 and 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows reveals users' passwords if Save Settings is enabled.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

1.2%

Top 36% exploitable

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS POC (1)

GitHub Metasploit

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 LOW

CISA KEV No

Public POC Yes

EPSS 1.2%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9)

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

Poc

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact· derived

Low

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +1

CVSS: +16

PoC: +20

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.