CVE-2020-18174: A process injection vulnerability in setup.exe of AutoHotkey 1.1.32.00 allows attackers to escalate privileges

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-18174 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting autohotkey. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A process injection vulnerability in setup.exe of AutoHotkey 1.1.32.00 allows attackers to escalate privileges.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.3% (top 30%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2021-07-26
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: autohotkey

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-07-26 20:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

autohotkey autohotkey DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.1.32.00

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.1.32.00

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy autohotkey || rpm -q autohotkey || autohotkey --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.1.32.00 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison autohotkey sudo apt install autohotkey=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1.32.00> sudo apt-mark hold autohotkey

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list autohotkey sudo dnf downgrade autohotkey-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1.32.00> sudo dnf versionlock add autohotkey

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-18174?

autohotkey: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-18174 being exploited?

CVE-2020-18174 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-18174 affect?

CVE-2020-18174 affects autohotkey. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A process injection vulnerability in setup.exe of AutoHotkey 1.1.32.00 allows attackers to escalate privileges.

How urgent is CVE-2020-18174?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

References

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