XML external entity injection in Pulse Connect Secure
Priority MEDIUM 56CWE-611Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-611 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
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.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.03356 88th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Pulse Connect Secure | Fixed in 9.1R8.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Pulse Connect Secure Vendor— Affected Fixed in 9.1R8.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 14
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r1 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r2 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r3 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r4 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r4.1 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r4.2 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r4.3 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r5 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r6 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r1 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r2 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r3 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r4 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r4.1 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r4.2 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r4.3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r4.3 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r5 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r6 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
Show 4 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r7 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r8 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r8.1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 r8.1 | Vulnerable | Ivanti |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_connect_secure:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 9.0 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r7 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r8 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:ivanti:connect_secure:9.1:r8.1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 r8.1 Vulnerable ·Ivanti
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_connect_secure:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 9.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-8256
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pcw3-p344-q7jr
References
Sources
- CVE-2020-8256 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-8256 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pcw3-p344-q7jr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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