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Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2020-15523High confidence

n/a — Uncontrolled Search Path Element

n/a · n/a

7.8HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Within 7 days

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Patch available
Direct vendor intelligence

Authoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories

Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.

1 current
SSA-398330 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 18 · interimSiemens ProductCERTSSA-398330: Vulnerabilities in the additional GNU/Linux subsystem of the SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518(F)-4 PN/DP MFP >= V3.1.0 and < V3.1.5
5 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

  • SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AB0)
  • SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AC0)
  • SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AB0)
  • SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AC0)
  • SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6AG1518-4AX00-4AC0)
Summary
In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.dll may use an invalid search path for python3.dll loading (after Py_SetPath has been used). NOTE: this issue CANNOT occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.
Remediation
Update to V3.1.5 or later version
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Select the national-authority views to include. The exact source language is shown on each matched advisory. Your choice is remembered on this device and encoded in the shareable URL.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2020-7510

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 7 days

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.dll may use an invalid search path for python3.dll loading (after Py_SetPath has been used). NOTE: this issue CANNOT occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.

What

In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.dll may use an invalid search path for python3.dll loading (after Py_SetPath has been used). NOTE: this issue CANNOT occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.

Why

The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.dll may use an invalid search path for python3.dll loading (after Py_SetPath has been used). NOTE: this issue CANNOT occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.

Why

The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Uncontrolled Search Path Element → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
Required interaction required
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-427 ↗

CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element. The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
UnauthenticatedCWE-427
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

BSI · German · WID-SEC-W-2025-1235Python: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Umgehen von Sicherheitsvorkehrungen

Ein lokaler Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in Python ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen.

Official advisory
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2023-AVI-1015Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Siemens

d?id=CVE-2020-13630 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13631 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13631 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13632 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13632 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13776 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13776 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13777 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13777 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13871 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13871 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14145 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14145 Référence CVE CVE-2020-14422 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14422 Référence CVE CVE-2020-15358 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15358 Référence CVE CVE-2020-15523 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15523 Référence CVE CVE-2020-15778 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15778 Référence CVE CVE-2020-15801 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15801 Référence CVE CVE-2020-1712 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1712 Référence CVE CVE-2020-1751 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1751 Référence CVE CVE-2020-1752 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1752 Référence CVE CVE-2020-19185 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-19185 Référence CVE CVE-2020-19186 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-19186 Référence CVE CVE-2020-19187 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-20

Official advisory
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2022-AVI-928Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM

ERecord?id=CVE-2019-11358 Référence CVE CVE-2019-16935 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16935 Référence CVE CVE-2019-18348 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-18348 Référence CVE CVE-2019-9636 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9636 Référence CVE CVE-2019-9740 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9740 Référence CVE CVE-2019-9947 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9947 Référence CVE CVE-2020-11022 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11022 Référence CVE CVE-2020-11023 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11023 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13936 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13936 Référence CVE CVE-2020-15523 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15523 Référence CVE CVE-2020-26116 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-26116 Référence CVE CVE-2020-27619 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-27619 Référence CVE CVE-2020-28469 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-28469 Référence CVE CVE-2020-4051 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-4051 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7598 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7598 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7656 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7656 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7788 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7788 Référence CVE CVE-2020-8203 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-

Official advisory
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AB0); SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AC0); SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AB0); SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AC0); SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6AG1518-4AX00-4AC0)
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Update to V3.1.5 or later version
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 4 Jul 2020 · Last source change 4 Aug 2024, 13:15 UTC · CWE-427 · Uncontrolled Search Path Element

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-7510
Product sourceVendor CSAF · Siemens ProductCERT
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · Siemens ProductCERT
CWE sourceNIST NVD
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates →

No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.

Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-7510↗Vendor CSAF · Siemens ProductCERT↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Patch or update reference↗Patch or update reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2020-15523 · cve.blacktree.nl