Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a local privilege escalation issue in older Dell endpoint encryption/security software. An already low-privileged local user might gain elevated system privileges using a symbolic link, but exploitation is rated high complexity and requires user interaction.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate endpoint hardening issue. It is not described as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, but successful abuse could grant high-impact privileges on affected systems after local access is obtained.
Technical view
CVE-2020-5385 affects Dell Encryption before 10.8 and Dell Endpoint Security Suite before 2.8. It is described as an incomplete fix for CVE-2020-5358, mapped to CWE-732, with CVSS 3.1 score 6.7 and potential high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running affected Dell Encryption or Dell Endpoint Security Suite versions. The bundle only names Dell Encryption Enterprise in structured affected data, so confirm product edition and version from endpoint inventory.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not state active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The attack is local, requires low privileges, high complexity, and user interaction, reducing broad internet-driven risk but still mattering on shared or compromised endpoints.
Researcher notes
The source bundle gives a concise description but limited vendor detail. Analysis should avoid assuming exploit availability. Key validation points are installed product/version, local user exposure, and whether the incomplete CVE-2020-5358 fix is remediated by vendor-recommended versions.
Mitigation direction
- Review Dell advisory SLN322456 for vendor-approved remediation guidance.
- Upgrade Dell Encryption to version 10.8 or later where applicable.
- Upgrade Dell Endpoint Security Suite to version 2.8 or later where applicable.
- Prioritize shared workstations and high-value administrative endpoints.
- Restrict local user access where affected software cannot be upgraded quickly.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Dell endpoint encryption and security suite versions.
- Confirm whether any Dell Encryption installations are below 10.8.
- Confirm whether any Dell Endpoint Security Suite installations are below 2.8.
- Check endpoint management records for successful upgrade deployment.
- Review local privilege escalation alerts on affected endpoints.
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.
CWE-732: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-5385 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.dell.com/support/article/SLN322456CVE 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.
Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.