How severe is CVE-2020-8256?

CVE-2020-8256 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-2020-8256 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-2020-8256?

CVE-2020-8256 primarily affects Ivanti Connect Secure. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-8256?

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

When was CVE-2020-8256 published?

CVE-2020-8256 was published on 2020-09-30 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-8256

CVE-2020-8256 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-611.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.9)
CVSS v2: 4.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (87th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Ivanti Connect Secure
Published: 2020-09-30
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the Pulse Connect Secure < 9.1R8.2 admin web interface could allow an authenticated attacker to gain arbitrary file reading access through Pulse Collaboration via XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-8256?: A vulnerability in the Pulse Connect Secure < 9.1R8.2 admin web interface could allow an authenticated attacker to gain arbitrary file reading access through Pulse Collaboration via XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability.
How severe is CVE-2020-8256?: CVE-2020-8256 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-2020-8256 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-2020-8256?: CVE-2020-8256 primarily affects Ivanti Connect Secure. In total, 14 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-8256?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-8256 published?: CVE-2020-8256 was published on 2020-09-30 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (14)

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:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_connect_secure:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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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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