CVEvulnerability
CVE-2020-1054
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability — Microsoft Win32k
Microsoft Win32k contains a privilege escalation vulnerability when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute code in kernel mode.
- Added to KEV
- 2021-11-03
- Remediation due
- 2022-05-03
- Ransomware use
- Unknown
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Notes
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1054
- Status
- Analyzed
- Published
- 2020-05-21
- Last modified
- 2026-10-08
- Assigner
- [email protected]
- CVSS 3.1 ([email protected])
- 7.0 HIGH — CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS 3.1 ([email protected])
- 7.8 HIGH — CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS 2.0 ([email protected])
- 7.2 HIGH — AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
- Weaknesses
- CWE-787
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.
Affected configurations
• microsoft windows 10 1507
• microsoft windows 10 1607
• microsoft windows 10 1709
• microsoft windows 10 1803
• microsoft windows 10 1809
• microsoft windows 10 1903
• microsoft windows 10 1909
• microsoft windows 7
• microsoft windows 8.1
• microsoft windows rt 8.1
• microsoft windows server 1803
• microsoft windows server 1903
• microsoft windows server 1909
• microsoft windows server 2008
• microsoft windows server 2008 r2
• microsoft windows server 2012
• microsoft windows server 2012 r2
• microsoft windows server 2016
• microsoft windows server 2019
Related
Weakness · CWE (1)
- CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write weakness
Referenced by CWE · observed example (1)
- CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write weakness
References
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1054 Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160515/Microsoft-Windows-DrawIconEx-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1054 Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-1054 US Government Resource