Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-14990 is a local vulnerability in IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 13.5.0.263. A local user could abuse the product's Clean & Optimize feature to make the software delete files with higher privileges. This is most relevant on shared workstations or endpoints where untrusted users can log in.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted endpoint hygiene issue, not an internet-scale emergency. Prioritize shared systems, kiosks, support workstations, and any endpoint where local users are not fully trusted.
Technical view
The CVE describes privileged file deletion through manipulation of the Clean & Optimize workflow using an NTFS junction and an Object Manager symbolic link. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, vendor advisory details, or a named patch. Scope should be limited to the version explicitly cited unless vendor guidance confirms more.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to systems running IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 13.5.0.263 where a local, low-privileged user can interact with the product or its cleanup workflow.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data. The provided sources describe a public local abuse technique, but they do not show active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence is incomplete. The CVE data names Advanced SystemCare Free 13.5.0.263 and the vulnerable cleanup path, but affected-product metadata is n/a and no CVSS, CWE, patch, or vendor advisory is included in the source bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints for IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 13.5.0.263.
- Check IObit guidance for fixed versions or supported remediation.
- Remove or upgrade affected installations where business need is weak.
- Restrict local interactive access on shared endpoints.
- Monitor for unexpected privileged file deletion activity.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether the exact affected version is installed.
- Review endpoint software inventory for IObit Advanced SystemCare Free.
- Check whether untrusted users can log into affected systems.
- Review security logs for unusual file deletions by cleanup utilities.
- Verify remediation against vendor guidance before closing findings.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2020-14990 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://daniels-it-blog.blogspot.com/2020/06/arbitrary-file-deletion-in-iobit.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/Daniel-itsec/AdvancedSystemCareCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.