CVE-2020-8221

CVE-2020-8221 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.9. 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-22.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.9)
• CVSS v2: 4.0
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (81st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-22
• Affected product: Ivanti Connect Secure
• Published: 2020-07-30
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A path traversal vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure <9.1R8 which allows an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files via the administrator web interface.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-8221?

A path traversal vulnerability exists in Pulse Connect Secure <9.1R8 which allows an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files via the administrator web interface.

How severe is CVE-2020-8221?

CVE-2020-8221 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.9, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-8221 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-8221?

CVE-2020-8221 primarily affects Ivanti Connect Secure. In total, 24 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-8221?

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

When was CVE-2020-8221 published?

CVE-2020-8221 was published on 2020-07-30 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44516

Affected products (24)

• 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:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• 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 →

Other CWE-22 (Path Traversal) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2026-48282 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted…
• CVE-2026-54917 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SeaweedFS is a distributed storage system for object storage (S3), file systems, and Iceberg tables. Prior to 4.30, the…
• CVE-2026-11429 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Two endpoints in the Vault Service ScriptsController, shared by Altium Enterprise Server and Altium 365, accept file…
• CVE-2026-34909 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A malicious actor with access to the network could exploit a Path Traversal vulnerability found in UniFi OS devices to…
• CVE-2026-7411 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): In Eclipse BaSyx Java Server SDK versions prior to 2.0.0-milestone-10, inadequate path normalization in the Submodel…
• CVE-2026-36767 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A path traversal vulnerability in the /content/images/add endpoint of shopizer v3.2.5 allows attackers write arbitrary…

Browse all CWE-22 (Path Traversal) vulnerabilities →