# CVE-2020-27172: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can exploit symbolic links in the restore mechanism to write arbitrary files and escalate privileges on systems running G-Data Antivirus.

- **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:** 28 Dec 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-67r3-w458-w4x6

## What is CVE-2020-27172?

CVE-2020-27172 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Dec 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in G-Data before 25.5.9.25 using Symbolic links, it is possible to abuse the infected-file restore mechanism to achieve arbitrary write that leads to elevation of privileges.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-27172?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gdatasoftware G Data.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-27172?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-27172 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-27172 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-27172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-27172 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-27172 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Dec 2020. 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-2020-27172 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-2020-27172/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27172/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-27172
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-27172
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-27172

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27172/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.