# CVE-2020-13162: Race condition in n/a

> Unprivileged users can exploit a race condition in Pulse Secure Client to execute installer files with SYSTEM privileges, leading to full system compromise.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Jun 2020
- **Updated:** 5 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jc87-47xg-wmhr

## What is CVE-2020-13162?

CVE-2020-13162 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Jun 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-367 (Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-13162?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Pulsesecure Pulse Secure Desktop Client, Pulsesecure Pulse Secure Installer Service.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-13162?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-13162 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-13162 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-13162 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Exploit for CVE-2020-13162 (github_poc): https://github.com/redtimmy/tu-TOCTOU-kaiu-TOCMEU-CVE-2020-13162-

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2020-8239](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8239/): Privilege escalation in Pulse Secure Desktop Cient (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-8254](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8254/): Path traversal in Pulse Secure Desktop Client (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-8240](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8240/): Privilege escalation in Pulse Secure Desktop Client (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-8248](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8248/): Privilege escalation in Pulse Secure Desktop Client (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-8249](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8249/): Memory corruption in Pulse Secure Desktop Client (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-13162 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-13162 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Jun 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-13162 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13162/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13162/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13162
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13162
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-13162

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13162/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.