CVE-2017-20201 json
CCleaner v5.33.6162 & CCleaner Cloud v1.07.3191 Malicious Backdoor Supply Chain Compromise
published 2025-10-08 13 mo ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2025-33278
- cvss
- 9.3
- version 4.0, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.5%
- EPSS 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 45%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
CCleaner v5.33.6162 and CCleaner Cloud v1.07.3191 (32-bit builds) contained a malicious pre-entry-point loader that diverts execution from __scrt_common_main_seh into a custom loader. That loader decodes an embedded blob into shellcode, allocates executable heap memory, resolves Windows API functions at runtime, and transfers execution to an in-memory payload. The payload performs anti-analysis checks, gathers host telemetry, encodes the data with a two-stage obfuscation, and attempts HTTPS exfiltration to hard-coded C2 servers or month-based DGA domains. Potential impacts include remote data collection and exfiltration, stealthy in-memory execution and persistence, and potential lateral movement. CCleaner was developed by Piriform, which was acquired by Avast in July 2017; Avast later merged with NortonLifeLock to form the parent company now known as Gen Digital. According to vendor advisories, the compromised CCleaner build was released on August 15, 2017 and remediated on September 12, 2017 with v5.34; the compromised CCleaner Cloud build was released on August 24, 2017 and remediated on September 15, 2017 with v1.07.3214.
Patch / fix
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- Proof of concept is public
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 12 mo ago
Exploit prediction
0.53% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 45% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- crowdstrike.com https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/blog/protecting-software-supply-chain-deep-insights-ccleaner-backdoor/ referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 4.0 | 9.3 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N |
| CNA | 4.0 | 9.3 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/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:X |
Affected products
- Piriform CCleaner
- Piriform CCleaner Cloud
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-506 Embedded Malicious Code
References
-
ccleaner.com
/knowledge/security-notification-ccleaner-v5336162-ccleaner-cloud-v1073191
vendor-advisory, patch
-
crowdstrike.com
/en-us/blog/protecting-software-supply-chain-deep-insights-ccleaner-backdoor/
technical-description, exploit
-
blog.avast.com
/update-to-the-ccleaner-5.33.6162-security-incident
vendor-advisory
-
blog.avast.com
/progress-on-ccleaner-investigation
vendor-advisory
-
ccleaner.com
/
product
-
morphisec.com
/blog/morphisec-discovers-ccleaner-backdoor/
technical-description
-
blog.talosintelligence.com
/avast-distributes-malware/
technical-description
-
vulncheck.com
/advisories/ccleaner-and-ccleaner-cloud-malicious-backdoor-supply-chain-compromise
third-party-advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2017-20201
- NVD CVE-2017-20201
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.