# CVE-2020-7252: Unquoted service executable path

> Local attackers can execute malicious code and escalate privileges by exploiting unquoted service paths in McAfee DXL Broker.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Feb 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-432g-39xc-whrc

## What is CVE-2020-7252?

CVE-2020-7252 is a medium-severity vulnerability in McAfee, LLC Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Broker, published on 17 Feb 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

Unquoted service executable path in DXL Broker in McAfee Data eXchange Layer (DXL) Framework 6.0.0 and earlier allows local users to cause a denial of service and malicious file execution via carefully crafted and named executable files.

Weakness: CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element), CWE-250 (Execution with Unnecessary Privileges)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-7252?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mcafee Data Exchange Layer.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-7252?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-7252 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-7252 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-7252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in McAfee, LLC Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Broker

- [CVE-2019-3612](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3612/): Information disclosure vulnerability in McAfee TIE Server and DXL Platform (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-2188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2188/): DXL Broker privilege escalation vulnerability (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-7252 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-7252 is a medium-severity vulnerability in McAfee, LLC Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Broker, published on 17 Feb 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-2020-7252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: McAfee, LLC Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Broker. 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-2020-7252/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7252/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7252
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7252
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7252

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7252/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.