Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-7312 affects the McAfee Agent for Windows installer before version 5.6.6. A local attacker could abuse Windows DLL loading behavior from a compromised folder to run code with elevated privileges. This is not a remote internet-facing issue, but it matters on managed Windows endpoints where vulnerable agent versions remain installed or used for upgrades.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority endpoint hygiene issue, not an emergency internet exposure. Patch or remove vulnerable McAfee Agent versions and installers during normal security maintenance, with urgency for shared workstations, developer endpoints, and environments where local privilege boundaries matter.
Technical view
The issue is a CWE-427 DLL search order hijacking flaw in the McAfee Agent for Windows installer prior to 5.6.6. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local attack vector, high complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Windows environments using McAfee Agent 5.6.x versions before 5.6.6, especially where local users can influence folders involved in installer execution. The source bundle does not identify other McAfee products or later versions as affected.
Exploitation context
The provided sources support local privilege escalation through DLL search order hijacking during installer execution from a compromised folder. They do not state active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the supplied bundle.
Researcher notes
The key exposure condition is local access plus a compromised folder influencing DLL loading during installer execution. The source bundle does not provide proof-of-concept details, exploit prevalence, or affected CPEs. Avoid expanding impact beyond MA for Windows prior to 5.6.6.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade McAfee Agent for Windows to 5.6.6 or later, following vendor guidance.
- Retire vulnerable 5.6.x installer packages from software shares and deployment tooling.
- Restrict write access to folders used for endpoint agent installation or upgrade workflows.
- Review McAfee advisory SB10325 for any environment-specific remediation instructions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows endpoints for McAfee Agent versions prior to 5.6.6.
- Check software deployment repositories for old McAfee Agent 5.6.x installers.
- Confirm installer execution paths are writable only by trusted administrators.
- Review endpoint logs for unexpected local installer execution around privileged contexts.
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-427: 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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-7312 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
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.16Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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=SB10325CVE 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.
Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Uncontrolled Search Path Element represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.