How severe is CVE-2020-4462?

CVE-2020-4462 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability low.

Is CVE-2020-4462 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-4462?

CVE-2020-4462 primarily affects Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-4462?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-4462 published?

CVE-2020-4462 was published on 2020-07-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-4462

CVE-2020-4462 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-611.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.2)
CVSS v2: 6.4
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (87th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server
Published: 2020-07-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

IBM Sterling External Authentication Server 6.0.1, 6.0.0, 2.4.3.2, and 2.4.2 and IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.1, 6.0.0, 3.4.3, and 3.4.2 are vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 181482.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-4462?: IBM Sterling External Authentication Server 6.0.1, 6.0.0, 2.4.3.2, and 2.4.2 and IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.1, 6.0.0, 3.4.3, and 3.4.2 are vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 181482.
How severe is CVE-2020-4462?: CVE-2020-4462 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability low.
Is CVE-2020-4462 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-4462?: CVE-2020-4462 primarily affects Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-4462?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-4462 published?: CVE-2020-4462 was published on 2020-07-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (8)

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_external_authentication_server:2.4.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_external_authentication_server:2.4.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_external_authentication_server:6.0.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_external_authentication_server:6.0.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_secure_proxy:3.4.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_secure_proxy:3.4.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_secure_proxy:6.0.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_secure_proxy:6.0.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server

CVE-2013-0517 — High (CVSS 7.8): A Command Execution Vulnerability exists in IBM Sterling External Authentication Server 2.2.0, 2.3.01, 2.4.0, and 2.4.1…
CVE-2022-22336 — High (CVSS 7.5): IBM Sterling External Authentication Server and IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.3.0, 6.0.2.0, and 3.4.3.2 could allow a…
CVE-2021-29723 — High (CVSS 7.5): IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.1, 6.0.2, 2.4.3.2, and 3.4.3.2 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that…
CVE-2021-29722 — High (CVSS 7.5): IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.1, 6.0.2, 2.4.3.2, and 3.4.3.2 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that…
CVE-2022-22333 — Medium (CVSS 6.5): IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.3.0, 6.0.2.0, and 3.4.3.2 and IBM Sterling External Authentication Server are vulnerable…
CVE-2023-29261 — Medium (CVSS 5.1): IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.3 and 6.1.0 could allow a local user with specific information about the system to obtain…

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Other CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE)) vulnerabilities

CVE-2022-22486 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler 9.4, 9.5, and 10.1 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when…
CVE-2019-14678 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SAS XML Mapper 9.45 has an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability that can be leveraged by malicious attackers in…
CVE-2015-9280 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): MailEnable before 8.60 allows XXE via an XML document in the request.aspx Options parameter.
CVE-2018-1000838 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): autopsy version <= 4.9.0 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in CaseMetadata XML Parser that can result…
CVE-2018-1000837 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): UML Designer version <= 8.0.0 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in XML parser for plugins that can…
CVE-2018-1000835 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): KeePassDX version <= 2.5.0.0beta17 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in kdbx file parser that can…

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