# CVE-2020-4717: Path traversal in SPSS Modeler

> A local attacker with symlink permissions can write arbitrary files to protected paths during IBM SPSS Modeler installation, potentially escalating privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.2 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/UI:N/I:H/A:N/PR:N/S:U/C:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Mar 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rfxj-hq8g-hc57

## What is CVE-2020-4717?

CVE-2020-4717 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in IBM SPSS Modeler, published on 10 Mar 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability exists in IBM SPSS Modeler Subscription Installer that allows a user with create symbolic link permission to write arbitrary file in another protected path during product installation. IBM X-Force ID: 187727.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-4717?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Spss Modeler.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-4717?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-4717 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-4717 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-4717 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM SPSS Modeler

- [CVE-2023-33842](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33842/): IBM SPSS Modeler information disclosure (medium 6.2)
- [CVE-2012-5769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5769/): XML external entity in n/a (medium 5.8)
- [CVE-2013-6739](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6739/): Auth bypass in n/a (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2015-4991](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4991/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 4.0)
- [CVE-2014-3038](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3038/): Privilege escalation in n/a (low 3.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-4717 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-4717 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in IBM SPSS Modeler, published on 10 Mar 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-4717 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM SPSS Modeler. 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-2020-4717/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4717/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-4717
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-4717
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-4717

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4717/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.