How severe is CVE-2020-9523?

CVE-2020-9523 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-9523 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (54th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-9523?

CVE-2020-9523 primarily affects Microfocus Enterprise Developer. In total, 46 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-9523?

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-2020-9523 published?

CVE-2020-9523 was published on 2020-04-17 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-9523

CVE-2020-9523 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microfocus Enterprise Developer 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-522.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 6.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (54th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-522
Affected product: Microfocus Enterprise Developer
Published: 2020-04-17
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability on Micro Focus enterprise developer and enterprise server, affecting all version prior to 4.0 Patch Update 16, and version 5.0 Patch Update 6. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to transmit hashed credentials for the user account running the Micro Focus Directory Server (MFDS) to an arbitrary site, compromising that account's security.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-9523?: Insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability on Micro Focus enterprise developer and enterprise server, affecting all version prior to 4.0 Patch Update 16, and version 5.0 Patch Update 6. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to transmit hashed credentials for the user account running the Micro Focus Directory Server (MFDS) to an arbitrary site, compromising that account's security.
How severe is CVE-2020-9523?: CVE-2020-9523 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-9523 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (54th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-9523?: CVE-2020-9523 primarily affects Microfocus Enterprise Developer. In total, 46 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-9523?: 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-2020-9523 published?: CVE-2020-9523 was published on 2020-04-17 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://softwaresupport.softwaregrp.com/doc/KM03634936

Affected products (46)

cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_12:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:4.0:update_9:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:5.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:5.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:5.0:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:5.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:5.0:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_developer:5.0:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_12:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microfocus:enterprise_server:4.0:update_9:*:*:*:*:*:*

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