CVE-2020-13162

high

Description

A time-of-check time-of-use vulnerability in PulseSecureService.exe in Pulse Secure Client versions prior to 9.1.6 down to 5.3 R70 for Windows (which runs as NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM) allows unprivileged users to run a Microsoft Installer executable with elevated privileges.

References

Advisories
More

https://twitter.com/sepcali/status/1262551597990711296

https://twitter.com/gsepcali/status/1272927080909623297

https://twitter.com/gsepcali/status/1262551597990711296

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Sep/15

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Jun/25

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159065/Pulse-Secure-Windows-Client-Privilege-Escalation.html

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158117/Pulse-Secure-Client-For-Windows-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html

https://github.com/redtimmy/tu-TOCTOU-kaiu-TOCMEU-CVE-2020-13162-

https://www.redtimmy.com/privilege-escalation/pulse-secure-client-for-windows-9-1-6-toctou-privilege-escalation-cve-2020-13162/

https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44503

https://kb.pulsesecure.net/?atype=sa

Details

Source: Mitre, NVD

Published: 2020-06-16

Updated: 2026-06-17

Risk Information

CVSS v2

Base Score: 6.9

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Severity: Medium

CVSS v3

Base Score: 7

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Severity: High

EPSS

EPSS: 0.00347