Privilege Escalation vulnerability through Symbolic links in ENS
Priority LOW 36CWE-264Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass, Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-264 and CWE-269.
Summary
Privilege escalation vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) for Windows prior to 10.7.0 February 2020 Update allows local users to cause the deletion and creation of files they would not normally have permission to through altering the target of symbolic links whilst an anti-virus scan was in progress. This is timing dependent.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00252 16th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) (McAfee LLC): 10.7.0 April 2020 Update
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAfee | McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) | 10.x to before 10.7.0 April 2020 Update | 10.7.0 April 2020 Update | Patch available | CNA |
- McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) VendorMcAfee Affected 10.x to before 10.7.0 April 2020 Update Fixed in 10.7.0 April 2020 Update Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.0:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.5.0 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.1:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.5.1 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.2:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.5.2 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.3:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.5.3 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.4:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.5.4 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.5:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.5.5 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
| cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.6.0:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* | 10.6.0 | Vulnerable | McAfee |
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.0:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.5.0 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.1:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.5.1 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.2:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.5.2 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.3:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.5.3 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.4:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.5.4 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.5.5:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.5.5 Vulnerable ·McAfee
- cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:endpoint_security:10.6.0:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 10.6.0 Vulnerable ·McAfee
Remediation
- Fix · CNA McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) (McAfee LLC) Fixed in 10.7.0 April 2020 Update
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) 10.7.0 April 2020 Update
10 records Highest priority Priority LOW 10 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-05857 ENS symbolic link log file manipulation vulnerabilityPriority LOW 36
- TI-2020-05879 ENS elevated permissions vulnerabilityPriority LOW 34
- TI-2020-05866 Unsigned executable vulnerability in ENS can be used to bypass intended self-protection rulesPriority LOW 34
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-7257
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-5jf3-c8qv-652g
References
More McAfee Endpoint Security vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-05935 Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in firewall ePO extension of McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2020-05923 Improper Access Control Vulnerability in ENS for Windows CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2020-05872 Privilege Escalation vulnerability through symbolic links in ENSM CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2020-05871 Privilege Escalation vulnerability through symbolic links in ENS for Windows CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2019-02647 McAfee Endpoint Security updates fix a privilege escalation vulnerability CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.6
- TI-2020-05857 ENS symbolic link log file manipulation vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
Sources
- CVE-2020-7257 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-7257 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5jf3-c8qv-652g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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