How severe is CVE-2020-12880?

CVE-2020-12880 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-12880 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-12880?

CVE-2020-12880 primarily affects Ivanti Connect Secure. In total, 23 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-12880?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-12880 published?

CVE-2020-12880 was published on 2020-07-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-12880

CVE-2020-12880 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 2.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (38th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Ivanti Connect Secure
Published: 2020-07-27
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An issue was discovered in Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) and Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) Virtual Appliance before 9.1R8. By manipulating a certain kernel boot parameter, it can be tricked into dropping into a root shell in a pre-install phase where the entire source code of the appliance is available and can be retrieved. (The source code is otherwise inaccessible because the appliance has its hard disks encrypted, and no root shell is available during normal operation.)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-12880?: An issue was discovered in Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) and Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) Virtual Appliance before 9.1R8. By manipulating a certain kernel boot parameter, it can be tricked into dropping into a root shell in a pre-install phase where the entire source code of the appliance is available and can be retrieved. (The source code is otherwise inaccessible because the appliance has its hard disks encrypted, and no root shell is available during normal operation.)
How severe is CVE-2020-12880?: CVE-2020-12880 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2020-12880 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-12880?: CVE-2020-12880 primarily affects Ivanti Connect Secure. In total, 23 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-12880?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-12880 published?: CVE-2020-12880 was published on 2020-07-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (23)

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: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:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:policy_secure:9.1:r7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_policy_secure:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Ivanti Connect Secure

CVE-2021-22893 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Pulse Connect Secure 9.0R3/9.1R1 and higher is vulnerable to an authentication bypass vulnerability exposed by the…
CVE-2019-11510 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): In Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.2 before 8.2R12.1, 8.3 before 8.3R7.1, and 9.0 before 9.0R3.4, an…
CVE-2016-4787 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): 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…
CVE-2025-22467 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): A stack-based buffer overflow in Ivanti Connect Secure before version 22.7R2.6 allows a remote authenticated attacker…
CVE-2024-21894 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A heap overflow vulnerability in IPSec component of Ivanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x) and Ivanti Policy Secure allows…
CVE-2018-20813 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An input validation issue has been found with login_meeting.cgi in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure 8.3RX before 8.3R2.

All CVEs affecting Ivanti Connect Secure →