# CVE-2020-3979: Path traversal in VMware InstallBuilder

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by placing malicious libraries in a predictable, writable directory loaded by VMware InstallBuilder installers.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6495-758p-crj2

## What is CVE-2020-3979?

CVE-2020-3979 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in VMware InstallBuilder, published on 18 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

InstallBuilder for Qt Windows (versions prior to 20.7.0) installers look for plugins at a predictable location at initialization time, writable by non-admin users. While those plugins are not required, they are loaded if present, which could allow an attacker to plant a malicious library which could result in code execution with the security scope of the installer.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-3979?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Installbuilder Installbuilder.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-3979?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-3979 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-3979 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3979 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in VMware InstallBuilder

- [CVE-2022-31694](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-31694/): Other in VMware InstallBuilder (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-3979 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-3979 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in VMware InstallBuilder, published on 18 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-3979 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: VMware InstallBuilder. 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-2020-3979/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3979/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-3979
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3979
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-3979

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3979/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.