HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2020-17365
HIGH

CVE-2020-17365

CWE-59Published: September 24, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Improper directory permissions in the Hotspot Shield VPN client software for Windows 10.3.0 and earlier may allow an authorized user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access. The vulnerability allows a local user to corrupt system files: a local user can create a specially crafted symbolic link to a critical file on the system and overwrite it with privileges of the application.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-17365 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

pango1 product(s)
hotspot shield
Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

ADVISORYhttps://cymptom.com/cve-2020-17365-hotspot-shield-vpn-new-privilege-escalation-vulnerability/2020/10/
ADVISORYhttps://www.pango.co/sec31944/
ADVISORYhttps://cymptom.com/cve-2020-17365-hotspot-shield-vpn-new-privilege-escalation-vulnerability/2020/10/
ADVISORYhttps://www.pango.co/sec31944/

All References (4)

→
https://cymptom.com/cve-2020-17365-hotspot-shield-vpn-new-privilege-escalation-vulnerability/2020/10/Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.pango.co/sec31944/Vendor Advisory
→
https://cymptom.com/cve-2020-17365-hotspot-shield-vpn-new-privilege-escalation-vulnerability/2020/10/Third Party Advisory
→
https://www.pango.co/sec31944/Vendor Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2020-17365
CVSS Score7.8 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-59
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedSep 24, 2020

Related CVEs (CWE-59)

CVE-2002-2374
10.0
CVE-2024-28189
10.0
CVE-2024-28185
10.0
CVE-2014-4480
10.0
CVE-2026-44881
9.9
CVE-2026-7374
9.9

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2020-17365 in threat intel feeds
  • →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.
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