How severe is CVE-2020-7293?

CVE-2020-7293 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-7293 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (49th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-7293?

CVE-2020-7293 affects Mcafee Web Gateway. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-7293?

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

When was CVE-2020-7293 published?

CVE-2020-7293 was published on 2020-09-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-7293

CVE-2020-7293 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Mcafee Web Gateway with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.0. 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-287.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.0)
CVSS v2: 7.7
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (49th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Mcafee Web Gateway
Published: 2020-09-15
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Privilege Escalation vulnerability in McAfee Web Gateway (MWG) prior to 9.2.1 allows authenticated user interface user with low permissions to change the system's root password via improper access controls in the user interface.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-7293?: Privilege Escalation vulnerability in McAfee Web Gateway (MWG) prior to 9.2.1 allows authenticated user interface user with low permissions to change the system's root password via improper access controls in the user interface.
How severe is CVE-2020-7293?: CVE-2020-7293 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-7293 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (49th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-7293?: CVE-2020-7293 affects Mcafee Web Gateway. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-7293?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-7293 published?: CVE-2020-7293 was published on 2020-09-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10323

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:web_gateway:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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