Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-7250 is a local privilege escalation issue in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows. A logged-in user could abuse symbolic links in the ENS log directory so ENS potentially changes files the user could not normally modify. This matters most on Windows endpoints still running ENS 10.x before the 10.7.0 February 2020 Update.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority endpoint hygiene issue, not an internet-scale emergency. Patch older ENS deployments promptly, especially where endpoints are shared, exposed to untrusted users, or already under investigation for compromise.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-59 symbolic link manipulation in the ENS log file directory. The CVSS 3.1 vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, user interaction required, and changed scope, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Sources identify McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows 10.x before 10.7.0 February 2020 Update as affected.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Windows systems running affected McAfee ENS 10.x versions. The attacker needs local authenticated access, so the risk is highest on shared workstations, compromised endpoints, or environments where low-privilege local users can log in.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. This is not described as remotely exploitable. It is still important because local privilege escalation can turn an initial low-privilege foothold into broader endpoint control.
Researcher notes
The source bundle supports the affected product, version boundary, CWE-59 classification, and CVSS vector. It does not provide exploit details, indicators of compromise, or evidence of active exploitation. Avoid assuming impact outside McAfee ENS for Windows 10.x before the February 2020 update.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade ENS for Windows to 10.7.0 February 2020 Update or later.
- Review McAfee security bulletin SB10309 for exact vendor guidance.
- Prioritize endpoints with shared users or known compromise risk.
- Limit unnecessary local interactive access on affected Windows systems.
- Monitor protected-file changes on systems awaiting remediation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows endpoints running McAfee Endpoint Security.
- Confirm ENS versions and update levels against the affected range.
- Verify remediation against McAfee bulletin SB10309.
- Check whether local non-admin users can access affected systems.
- Review endpoint logs for unusual protected-file modification events.
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-59: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupCVE-2020-7250 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
- High
- CVSS
- 8.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/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:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.56Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10309CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.