# CVE-2020-8468: Trend Micro Multiple Products Content Validation Escape

> Authenticated attackers can manipulate agent client components via content validation escape in Trend Micro security agents.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Mar 2020
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-963g-gc86-62cp

## What is CVE-2020-8468?

CVE-2020-8468 is a high-severity vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex One, published on 18 Mar 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Trend Micro Apex One (2019), OfficeScan XG and Worry-Free Business Security (9.0, 9.5, 10.0) agents are affected by a content validation escape vulnerability which could allow an attacker to manipulate certain agent client components. An attempted attack requires user authentication.

Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-8468?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Trendmicro Apex One, Trendmicro Officescan, Trendmicro Worry-Free Business Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-8468?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-8468 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2020-8468 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-8468 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

## Other vulnerabilities in Trendmicro Apex One

- [CVE-2020-8599](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8599/): Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-54948](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-54948/): Trend Micro Apex One OS Command Injection (critical 9.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-36741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36741/): Trend Micro Multiple Products Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-8467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8467/): Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-36742](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36742/): Trend Micro Multiple Products Improper Input Validation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-8468 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-8468 is a high-severity vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex One, published on 18 Mar 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-8468 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: Trendmicro Apex One. 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-2020-8468/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8468/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8468
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8468
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-8468

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8468/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.