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CVE-2020-12242

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file,...

7.8 HighPublic exploit

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file, which is later executed in the context of a different user account.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

1.09%Up 0.1 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file, which is later executed in the context of a different user account.

Record
CVE-2020-12242
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
7.2 HighAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Weakness
CWE-78
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file, which is later executed in the context of a different user account.

Record
CVE-2020-12242
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-4557 No score

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file, which is later executed in the context of a different user account.

Record
EUVD-2020-4557
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-wmwr-9cj7-xrgf 7.8

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file,...

Valve Source allows local users to gain privileges by writing to the /tmp/hl2_relaunch file, which is later executed in the context of a different user account.

Record
GHSA-wmwr-9cj7-xrgf
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-78, CWE-269
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
Exploit-DBSource Engine CS:GO BuildID: 4937372 - Arbitrary Code Execution2020-04-27

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-12242 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Valvesoftware Source, published April 27, 2020. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.09%, the 65th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

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