7.2

CVE-2020-8260: Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure Code Execution Vulnerability

CVSS: 7.2v3.1HighKEVAnalyzed
Published 28-10-2020Last modified 21-10-2025
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2020-8260 is a high (CVSS 7.2) vulnerability in Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 03-11-2021. EPSS estimates a 96.48% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.8% of scored vulnerabilities. 2 public exploits are recorded.

Overall risk
85/100
0100
Critical · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
7.2/10
010
High · v3.1 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
96.48%
0%100%
Critical · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVListedCISA
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits2reference, metasploit

Timeline

  1. 28-10-2020
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 03-11-2021
    Added to CISA KEVIvanti Pulse Connect Secure Code Execution Vulnerability
  3. 03-05-2022
    CISA remediation dueApply updates per vendor instructions.
  4. 21-10-2025
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A vulnerability in the Pulse Connect Secure < 9.1R9 admin web interface could allow an authenticated attacker to perform an arbitrary code execution using uncontrolled gzip extraction.

CVSS metrics

3 scores · 2 sources · 2 versions

EPSS trend

Probability

96.48%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

100%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

0.00 pp

From 96.48% on 19-09-2026

19-09-202619-10-2026
EPSS score
96.48%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVListed
Added
03-11-2021
Federal due date
03-05-2022

CISA required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Public exploits

2 found
  • referenceUnverified

    Exploit Reference (packetstormsecurity.com)

    Maturity: unknown

  • MetasploitMetasploitremoteVerified

    Pulse Secure VPN gzip RCE

    exploit/linux/http/pulse_secure_gzip_rce

    Maturity: weaponized

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Ivanti1 product
  • connect_secure≤ 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.1:r1.0 | 9.1:r2.0 | 9.1:r3.0 | 9.1:r4.0 | 9.1:r4.1 | 9.1:r4.2 | 9.1:r4.3 | 9.1:r5.0 | 9.1:r6.0 | 9.1:r7.0 | 9.1:r8.0 | 9.1:r8.1 | 9.1:r8.2 | 9.1:r8.4

1 vendor · 1 product

References

3 links