CVE-2020-8956 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 and 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows exposes users' passwords if Save Settings is enabled.

Understanding CVE-2020-8956

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Pulse Secure Desktop Client versions that can lead to password exposure on Windows systems.

What is CVE-2020-8956?

The vulnerability in Pulse Secure Desktop Client versions 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 and 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows allows users' passwords to be revealed if the Save Settings feature is enabled.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8956

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as LOW severity with a CVSS base score of 3.8. It has a low confidentiality impact and requires low privileges to exploit.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8956

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Pulse Secure Desktop Client versions exposes users' passwords when the Save Settings feature is activated on Windows.

Affected Systems and Versions

Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 on Windows
Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8956 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the Save Settings feature in Pulse Secure Desktop Client.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or password exposure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Pulse Secure Desktop Client to the latest secure version.
Educate users on safe password practices and the risks of enabling certain features.

Patching and Updates

Apply the recommended patches provided by Pulse Secure to address this vulnerability.