# CVE-2020-8599: Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-8599-trend-micro-apex-one-and-officescan-authentication-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-8599 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan server contain a vulnerable EXE file that allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to write arbitrary data to an arbitrary path. This vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass ROOT login and gain unauthorized access to the system.

Technologies: [Trend Micro Officescan](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/officescan). Vendors: [Trend Micro](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/trend-micro).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-8599 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-8599 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-8599?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Trend Micro Apex One 2019; Trend Micro OfficeScan XG; Trend Micro OfficeScan XG SP1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-8599?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2020-8599 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-8599?** Check whether you run Trend Micro Officescan. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Trend Micro Apex One 2019
- Trend Micro OfficeScan XG
- Trend Micro OfficeScan XG SP1

## Timeline

- 2020-03-17: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: advisory: Publication date of the provided advisory report

## Related threats

- [Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Remote Code Execution Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-8467-trend-micro-apex-one-and-officescan-remote-code-execution)
- [Trend Micro Multiple Products Content Validation Escape Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-8468-trend-micro-multiple-products-content-validation-escape)
- [Trend Micro Multiple Products Improper Access Control Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-24557-trend-micro-multiple-products-improper-access-control)
- [Trend Micro OfficeScan Directory Traversal Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-18187-trend-micro-officescan-directory-traversal-vulnerability)