# CVE-2020-21642: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via directory traversal in the Zoho ManageEngine Analytics Plus API.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Aug 2022
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c2h4-63xc-8qh6

## What is CVE-2020-21642?

CVE-2020-21642 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 15 Aug 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory Traversal vulnerability ZDBQAREFSUBDIR parameter in /zropusermgmt API in Zoho ManageEngine Analytics Plus before 4350 allows remote attackers to run arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-21642?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Analytics Plus.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-21642?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-21642 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-21642 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-21642 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2025-9428](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9428/): SQL Injection (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2024-52323](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-52323/): Sensitive Data Exposure (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2019-12133](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12133/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-21641](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-21641/): XML external entity in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-21642 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-21642 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 15 Aug 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-21642 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2020-21642/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-21642/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-21642
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-21642
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-21642

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-21642/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.