CVE-2020-37016
Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2020-37016 is a high-severity Unquoted Search Path or Element (CWE-428) vulnerability in Barcode Ocr (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.5 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Path Interception (T1034); ranked at the 2th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SA-15 (Development Process, Standards, and Tools) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2020-37016 is an unquoted service path vulnerability affecting BarcodeOCR version 19.3.6. This flaw exists in the service configuration, where the path to the executable lacks proper quotation, enabling local privilege escalation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element) and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Local attackers with low privileges (PR:L) can exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious executable in a directory that precedes the legitimate service binary in the system's search path. During system startup, the service attempts to launch the executable from this unquoted path, allowing the attacker's code to execute with LocalSystem privileges. Successful exploitation grants full system-level access, potentially enabling persistence, data theft, or further compromise.
Advisories from VulnCheck and a proof-of-concept exploit on Exploit-DB document the issue, highlighting the unquoted path in the BarcodeOCR service configuration. The vendor's site at barcode-ocr.com provides additional context on the software. No specific patch details are outlined in the available references.
A public exploit is available on Exploit-DB (ID 48740), demonstrating practical exploitation feasibility for affected systems.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-30920
Vulnerability Data
BarcodeOCR 19.3.6 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute code with elevated privileges during system startup. Attackers can exploit the unquoted path in the service configuration to inject malicious executables that will run with LocalSystem…
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privileges.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Developer testing and evaluation can discover unquoted search paths through static analysis or dynamic test cases.
Documented development standards and tools can mandate proper quoting and escaping of path elements.
Engineering principles can require safe construction and quoting of search paths and command elements.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure SDLC practices directly prevent path-handling flaws such as unquoted elements during development.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development can detect unquoted search-path issues before deployment.
Enforcing controlled software installation can prevent unquoted search-path elements in executables and scripts.
Secure development lifecycle practices include input validation and path handling that reduce unquoted search-path weaknesses.
Secure system architecture and engineering principles require safe path construction and quoting conventions.
Secure coding standards directly mandate quoting search paths and avoiding unsafe path construction.
Change-management processes can enforce review of path-handling changes that might introduce unquoted elements.