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.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1507 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1607 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1709 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1803 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1909 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 7 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 7 Service Pack 1 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation) |
|
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation) |
|
Timeline
- 21 May 2020 Published
- 3 Nov 2021 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue