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TI-2020-10343 Aliases CVE-2020-13162GHSA-jc87-47xg-wmhr

A time-of-check time-of-use vulnerability in PulseSecureService.exe in Pulse Secure…

Priority HIGH 66CWE-367Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

A time-of-check time-of-use vulnerability in PulseSecureService.exe in Pulse Secure Client versions prior to 9.1.6 down to 5.3 R70 for Windows (which runs as NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM) allows unprivileged users to run a Microsoft Installer executable with elevated privileges.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00793 56th 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
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 32

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r1.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r1.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r1.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r1.1VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r2.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r2.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r3.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r3.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r4.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r4.1VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r4.2:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r4.2VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r5.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r5.2:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r5.2VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r6.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r6.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r7.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*5.3 r7.0VulnerablePulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r1.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r1.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r1.1:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r1.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r2.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r2.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r3.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r3.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r4.1:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r4.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r4.2:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r4.2 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r5.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r5.2:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r5.2 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r6.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r6.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:5.3:r7.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 5.3 r7.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
Show 22 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r1.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r1.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r2:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r2VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r2.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r2.1VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r3:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r3VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r3.2:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r3.2VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r4:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r4VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r4.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r4.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r5.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r6.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.0 r6.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r1.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r1.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r2.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r2.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r3.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r3.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r3.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r3.1VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r4.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r4.1VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r4.2VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r5.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r6.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r6.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r7.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r7.0VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_installer_service:8.3:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*8.3VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_installer_service:9.1:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1VulnerablePulse Secure
cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_installer_service:9.1:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:*9.1 r5.0VulnerablePulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r1.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r1.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r2:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r2 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r2.1:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r2.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r3:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r3 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r3.2:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r3.2 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r4:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r4 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r4.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r4.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r5.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.0:r6.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.0 r6.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r1.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r1.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r2.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r2.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r3.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r3.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r3.1:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r3.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r4.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.1:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r4.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r4.2:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r4.2 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r5.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r6.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r6.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop_client:9.1:r7.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r7.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_installer_service:8.3:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 8.3 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_installer_service:9.1:*:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
  • cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_installer_service:9.1:r5.0:*:*:*:windows:*:* Versions 9.1 r5.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-13162
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jc87-47xg-wmhr

References

Exploit 1

Advisory 9

  • TI-2020-06657 A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client < 9.1R9 is vulnerable to the client… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-06672 Path traversal in Pulse Secure Desktop Client CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2019-08391 In Pulse Secure Pulse Desktop Client and Network Connect, an attacker could access… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2020-06659 A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client < 9.1R9 could allow the attacker to… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2020-06668 A vulnerability in the Pulse Secure Desktop Client (Linux) < 9.1R9 could allow local attackers to escalate privilege. CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2020-06667 Buffer overflow in Pulse Secure Desktop Client CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
See all 17 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences