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Vulnerability record · CVE-2020-12880 · published 27 July 2020

CVE-2020-12880: Ivanti connect secure vulnerability

Ivanti · Connect Secure

An issue was discovered in Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) and Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) Virtual Appliance before 9.1R8. By manipulating a certain kernel boot parameter, it can be tricked into dropping into a root shell in a pre-install phase where the entire source code of the appliance is available and can be retrieved. (The source code is otherwise inaccessible because the appliance has its hard disks encrypted, and no root shell is available during normal operation.)

5.5 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 0.48% · top 61.0%
5.5CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 2.1
0.48%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
4Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

An issue was discovered in Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) and Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) Virtual Appliance before 9.1R8. By manipulating a certain kernel boot parameter, it can be tricked into dropping into a root shell in a pre-install phase where the entire source code of the appliance is available and can be retrieved. (The source code is otherwise inaccessible because the appliance has its hard disks encrypted, and no root shell is available during normal operation.)

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Affected products

4 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://kb.pulsesecure.net/?atype=sa Vendor Advisory
https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44516 Vendor Advisory
https://kb.pulsesecure.net/?atype=sa Vendor Advisory
https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44516 Vendor Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

10.0CVE-2021-22893Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure authentication bypass and use-after-free enabling RCEPulse Connect Secure 9.0R3/9.1R1 and higher contains an authentication bypass exposed through the Windows File Share Browser and Pulse Secure Collabo…KEVEPSS 47%analysed10.0CVE-2019-11510Pulse Connect Secure path traversal allows unauthenticated file readPulse Connect Secure versions 8.2 before 8.2R12.1, 8.3 before 8.3R7.1, and 9.0 before 9.0R3.4 contain a path traversal (CWE-22) flaw. An unauthentica…KEVEPSS 100%analysed9.8CVE-2025-22457Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure and ZTA Gateways stack buffer overflow RCEA stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121/CWE-787) in Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure and ZTA Gateways allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to…KEVEPSS 100%analysed9.1CVE-2024-21887Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure web component command injectionIvanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure (9.x, 22.x) contain a command injection flaw (CWE-77) in web components. An authenticated administrator can s…KEVEPSS 100%analysed9.0CVE-2025-0282Ivanti Connect Secure stack buffer overflow enables unauthenticated RCEA stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121/CWE-787) in Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA gateways lets a remote, unauthenticated a…KEVEPSS 100%analysed8.8CVE-2021-22894Pulse Connect Secure buffer overflow allows root code executionPulse Connect Secure before 9.1R11.4 contains a buffer overflow reachable through a maliciously crafted meeting room. A remote authenticated attacker…KEVEPSS 41%analysed8.8CVE-2021-22899Pulse Connect Secure command injection via Windows Resource ProfilesPulse Connect Secure before 9.1R11.4 contains a command injection flaw (CWE-77) in the Windows Resource Profiles feature. An attacker who can authent…KEVEPSS 23%analysed8.2CVE-2024-21893Ivanti Connect Secure SAML SSRF allows unauthenticated resource accessThe SAML component of Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA contains a server-side request forgery flaw that lets an attacker reac…KEVEPSS 100%analysed

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2020-12880), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-02). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.