Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
McAfee VirusScan Enterprise for Linux 2.0.x before 2.0.3 Hotfix 2635000 can let a local user delete protected files by abusing symbolic links. This is a high-severity local privilege escalation risk because file deletion in the wrong place can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint remediation item where VSE for Linux is deployed. It requires local access, so urgency is highest on shared servers, systems with many users, and hosts where account compromise would enable local program execution.
Technical view
The issue is a symlink-based privilege escalation in VSE for Linux. A local low-privileged user can manipulate symbolic links so a McAfee delete action targets an unintended file. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running McAfee VirusScan Enterprise for Linux 2.0.x prior to 2.0.3 Hotfix 2635000. The attacker must already be able to run a script or program locally on the target machine.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is still operationally serious because local code execution by a user or compromised account can redirect privileged file deletion.
Researcher notes
Key evidence supports affected product, version range, attack precondition, and upgrade target. Public evidence supplied here does not establish active exploitation or provide deeper vendor technical detail beyond the symlink redirection and unintended file deletion behavior.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade VSE for Linux to 2.0.3 Hotfix 2635000 or later.
- Review the McAfee advisory for product-specific remediation guidance.
- Prioritize internet-facing or multi-user Linux systems using VSE.
- Reduce unnecessary local shell or program execution access until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts running McAfee VSE 2.0.x.
- Confirm whether Hotfix 2635000 or later is installed.
- Check endpoint management records for outdated VSE deployments.
- Validate remediation with normal endpoint health and version reporting.
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
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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-2020-7267 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.