CVE-2020-11552: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus before build 6003 because it does not properly enforce user privileg...

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus before build 6003 because it does not properly enforce user privileges associated with a Certificate dialog. This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to escalate privileges on a Windows host. An attacker does not require any privilege on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. One option is the self-service option on the Windows login screen. Upon selecting this option, the thick-client software is launched, which connects to a remote ADSelfService Plus server to facilitate self-service operations. An unauthenticated attacker having physical access to the host could trigger a security alert by supplying a self-signed SSL certificate to the client. The View Certificate option from the security alert allows an attacker to export a displayed certificate to a file. This can further cascade to a dialog that can open Explorer as SYSTEM. By navigating from Explorer to \windows\system32, cmd.exe can be launched as a SYSTEM.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

7.40%

93.7th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-269

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Zohocorp	Manageengine Adselfservice Plus	<= 5.8
Zohocorp	Manageengine Adselfservice Plus	6.0

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158820/ManageEngine-ADSelfService-Plus-6000-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/4Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/6Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://pitstop.manageengine.com/portal/en/community/topic/adselfservice-plus-6003-release-faceid-supportRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48739Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.manageengine.comVendor Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158820/ManageEngine-ADSelfService-Plus-6000-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/4Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/6Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://pitstop.manageengine.com/portal/en/community/topic/adselfservice-plus-6003-release-faceid-supportRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48739Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.manageengine.comVendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Aug 11, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-11552?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus before build 6003 because it does not properly enforce user privileges associated with a Certificate dialog. This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to escalate privileges on a Windows host. An attacker does not require any privilege on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. One option is the self-service option on the Windows login screen. Upon selecting this option, the thick-client software is launched, which connects to a remote ADSelfService Plus server to facilitate self-service operations. An unauthenticated attacker having physical access to the host could trigger a security alert by supplying a self-signed SSL certificate to the client. The View Certificate option from the security alert allows an attacker to export a displayed certificate to a file. This can further cascade to a dialog that can open Explorer as SYSTEM. By navigating from Explorer to \windows\system32, cmd.exe can be launched as a SYSTEM.

How severe is CVE-2020-11552?

CVE-2020-11552 has a CVSS score of 9.8/10 (CRITICAL severity). The EPSS model estimates a 7.40% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-11552?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.