How severe is CVE-2020-7266?

CVE-2020-7266 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-7266 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (16th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-7266?

CVE-2020-7266 affects Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-7266?

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-2020-7266 published?

CVE-2020-7266 was published on 2020-05-08 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-7266

CVE-2020-7266 is a high-severity vulnerability in Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. 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-269.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 3.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (16th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-269
Affected product: Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise
Published: 2020-05-08
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Privilege Escalation vulnerability in McAfee VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) for Windows prior to 8.8 Patch 14 Hotfix 116778 allows local users to delete files the user would otherwise not have access to via manipulating symbolic links to redirect a McAfee delete action to an unintended file. This is achieved through running a malicious script or program on the target machine.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-7266?: Privilege Escalation vulnerability in McAfee VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) for Windows prior to 8.8 Patch 14 Hotfix 116778 allows local users to delete files the user would otherwise not have access to via manipulating symbolic links to redirect a McAfee delete action to an unintended file. This is achieved through running a malicious script or program on the target machine.
How severe is CVE-2020-7266?: CVE-2020-7266 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-7266 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (16th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-7266?: CVE-2020-7266 affects Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-7266?: 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-2020-7266 published?: CVE-2020-7266 was published on 2020-05-08 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10316

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:virusscan_enterprise:*:*:*:*:*:linux:*:*

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