How severe is CVE-2020-8540?

CVE-2020-8540 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-8540 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 12% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-8540?

CVE-2020-8540 affects Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-8540?

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-2020-8540 published?

CVE-2020-8540 was published on 2020-03-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-8540

CVE-2020-8540 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 12% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-611.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 7.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 12% (96th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central
Published: 2020-03-11
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central before the 07-Mar-2020 update allows remote unauthenticated users to read arbitrary files or conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks via a crafted DTD in an XML request.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-8540?: An XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central before the 07-Mar-2020 update allows remote unauthenticated users to read arbitrary files or conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks via a crafted DTD in an XML request.
How severe is CVE-2020-8540?: CVE-2020-8540 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-8540 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 12% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-8540?: CVE-2020-8540 affects Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-8540?: 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-2020-8540 published?: CVE-2020-8540 was published on 2020-03-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/xxe-vulnerability.html

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:zohocorp:manageengine_desktop_central:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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