CVE-2020-8218
Pulse Connect Secure Code Injection Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2020-8218 is a high-severity improper control of generation of code ('code injection') vulnerability affecting Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure. A code injection vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure that allows an attacker to crafted a URI to perform an arbitrary code execution via the admin web interface. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 90.27% (99.6th percentile), this vulnerability has a notable probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| ivanti | connect secure | <= 9.0; 9.1 |
| ivanti | policy secure | 9.1 |
| pulsesecure | pulse policy secure | <= 9.0 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44516(Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.gosecure.net/blog/2020/11/13/forget-your-perimeter-part-2-four-vulnerabilities-in-pulse-connect-secure/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-8218(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Code Injection is a vulnerability that occurs when software constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Unlike command injection which targets operating system shells, code injection targets the programming language interpreter itself (e.g., Python's eval(), PHP's eval(), JavaScript's eval(), or compiled code generation).
Learn more: CWE-94 — Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Impact Analysis
CVE-2020-8218 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2 (HIGH), indicating a high-severity threat. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and requires administrative privileges. Successful exploitation can severely compromise data confidentiality, and allow unauthorized modification of data and systems, and cause complete service disruption. Organizations running affected Pulse Connect Secure deployments face significant operational risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2020-8218 is confirmed as actively exploited through its listing in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 90.27% (99.6th percentile) reflects an exceptionally high probability of exploitation. Public exploit code is available, which lowers the barrier for attackers and increases the urgency of remediation. Federal agencies were required to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-09-07 per CISA's binding operational directive.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as mandated by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Verify that all instances of affected products (ivanti connect secure <= 9.0; 9.1; ivanti policy secure 9.1; pulsesecure pulse policy secure <= 9.0) have been updated to patched versions.
- If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to affected systems using firewall rules and network segmentation to limit exposure.
- Monitor systems for indicators of compromise, including unusual process activity, unexpected network connections, and unauthorized configuration changes.
- Review security logs and conduct threat hunting to determine if the vulnerability was exploited prior to patching.
Technical Details
CVE-2020-8218 affects Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure. A code injection vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure that allows an attacker to crafted a URI to perform an arbitrary code execution via the admin web interface. The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target system. The CVSS score of 7.2 reflects a serious vulnerability that poses meaningful risk to affected environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-8218 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2020-8218 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 90.27% (99.6th percentile) further indicates a very high exploitation probability.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-8218?
CVE-2020-8218 affects Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure. Specifically affected products include: ivanti connect secure (<= 9.0; 9.1), ivanti policy secure (9.1), pulsesecure pulse policy secure (<= 9.0).
How do I fix CVE-2020-8218?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Ensure all affected systems are updated to the latest patched versions. If patching is not immediately possible, implement network-level mitigations to limit exposure.
How severe is CVE-2020-8218?
CVE-2020-8218 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2 (HIGH). This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for remediation.
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