# CVE-2020-6656: File parsing Type Confusion Remote code execution vulerability

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code or crash the application by tricking users into opening a malformed E70 file in Eaton easySoft.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L`)
- **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:** 7 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3vf9-hrcp-mj3p

## What is CVE-2020-6656?

CVE-2020-6656 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Eaton easySoft Software, published on 7 Jan 2021. 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

Eaton's easySoft software v7.xx prior to v7.22 are susceptible to file parsing type confusion remote code execution vulnerability. A malicious entity can execute a malicious code or make the application crash by tricking user upload a malformed .E70 file in the application. The vulnerability arises due to improper validation of user data supplied through E70 file which is causing Type Confusion.

Weakness: CWE-843 (Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-6656?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Eaton Easysoft.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-6656?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-6656 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-6656 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-6656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Eaton easySoft Software

- [CVE-2026-22614](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-22614/): Weak cryptography in EasySoft (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2023-43777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43777/): Insecure storage of password in easySoft (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2020-6655](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6655/): File parsing Out-Of-Bounds read remote code execution (medium 5.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-6656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-6656 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Eaton easySoft Software, published on 7 Jan 2021. 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-2020-6656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Eaton easySoft Software. 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-2020-6656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-6656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-6656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-6656

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.