CVE-2020-1054

Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

  • High 7.0
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 3 Nov 2021

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system. The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.

Key facts

Published
21 May 2020
Last changed
7 Oct 2026
Assigned by
microsoft
KEV added
3 Nov 2021
KEV fix due
3 May 2022
EPSS
53.878% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.017% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA)
Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

  • 7.0CVSS 3.1, Highfrom the CNA (microsoft)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

What to do

  • Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

VendorProductVersions
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1507
  • 10.0.10240.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1607
  • 10.0.14393.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1709
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1803
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1809
  • 10.0.17763.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1809
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 1909
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 7
  • 6.1.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 7 Service Pack 1
  • 6.1.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 8.1
  • 6.3.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
  • 6.1.7601.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
  • 6.1.7601.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
  • 6.0.6003.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
  • 6.0.6003.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012
  • 6.2.9200.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
  • 6.2.9200.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 R2
  • 6.3.9600.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)
  • 6.3.9600.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2016
  • 10.0.14393.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
  • 10.0.14393.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2019
  • 10.0.17763.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
  • 10.0.17763.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation)
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)
  • 10.0.0 up to but excluding publication (affected)

Timeline

  1. 21 May 2020 Published
  2. 3 Nov 2021 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

Weakness

References