# CVE-2020-7331: Unquoted service executable path in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS)

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

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w44x-f7wx-v7m6

## What is CVE-2020-7331?

CVE-2020-7331 is a high-severity vulnerability in McAfee, LLC McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS), published on 12 Nov 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Unquoted service executable path in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) prior to 10.7.0 November 2020 Update 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)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-7331?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mcafee Endpoint Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-7331?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-7331 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-7331 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-7331 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in McAfee, LLC McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS)

- [CVE-2020-7319](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7319/): Improper Access Control Vulnerability in ENS for Windows (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-7264](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7264/): Privilege Escalation vulnerability through symbolic links in ENS for Windows (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-7265](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7265/): Privilege Escalation vulnerability through symbolic links in ENSM (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-3582](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3582/): McAfee Endpoint Security updates fix a privilege escalation vulnerability (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2020-7257](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7257/): Privilege Escalation vulnerability through Symbolic links in ENS (high 8.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-7331 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-7331 is a high-severity vulnerability in McAfee, LLC McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS), published on 12 Nov 2020. 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-2020-7331 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: McAfee, LLC McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS). 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-2020-7331/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7331/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7331
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7331
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7331

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7331/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.