Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets a local, low-privileged Windows user abuse McAfee VirusScan Enterprise’s file deletion behavior to delete files they should not control. It requires running malicious code on the target machine, so it is not a remote-only issue. Business urgency is highest where legacy VSE 8.8.x remains deployed on workstations or servers.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority legacy endpoint security issue. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but compromised or malicious local users could abuse trusted antivirus behavior to damage protected files or escalate impact. Patch or replace vulnerable VSE deployments promptly.
Technical view
CVE-2020-7266 is a local privilege escalation issue in McAfee VSE for Windows before 8.8 Patch 14 Hotfix 116778. The reported mechanism involves symbolic link manipulation that redirects a McAfee delete action to an unintended file. CVSS 3.1 is 8.8 with low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Windows systems running McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.8.x before Patch 14 Hotfix 116778. Systems without VSE, non-Windows systems, or patched VSE deployments are not identified as affected in the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The provided sources describe local exploitation by running a malicious script or program on the target machine. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, and no cited source here confirms active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a symlink-based local privilege escalation affecting VSE for Windows before 8.8 Patch 14 Hotfix 116778. The bundle does not provide proof-of-concept details, observed exploitation, or additional affected McAfee products. Avoid broadening scope beyond VSE 8.8.x on Windows.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Windows endpoints for McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.8.x.
- Upgrade affected VSE installations to 8.8 Patch 14 Hotfix 116778 where applicable.
- Check McAfee guidance in SB10316 before applying production changes.
- Prioritize systems where local users can execute untrusted programs.
- Restrict local script and program execution where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
- Confirm each VSE host reports Patch 14 Hotfix 116778 or a non-vulnerable state.
- Compare endpoint inventory against known VSE 8.8.x deployments.
- Review endpoint security logs for unusual local scripts near McAfee deletion activity.
- Validate that remediation records cover workstations and servers.
- Document any systems pending vendor guidance or migration.
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-274: 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 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-2020-7266 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
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H26Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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=SB10316CVE 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 Handling of Insufficient Privileges
Improper Handling of Insufficient Privileges represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.