CVE-2020-0729Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via crafted shortcut processing

Published Feb 11, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Remote code execution in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to run code with local-user rights when a crafted .LNK file is processed. Microsoft has not published the specific Windows component or incorrect operation involved in processing the shortcut. The victim must cause Windows to process the file, and successful exploitation executes code with that victim's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability30.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Remote code execution in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to run code with local-user rights when a crafted .LNK file is processed. Microsoft has not published the specific Windows component or incorrect operation involved in processing the shortcut. The victim must cause Windows to process the file, and successful exploitation executes code with that victim's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-0729
Published
Feb 11, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1909
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1909version=unspecified
Microsoft · Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)version=unspecified
Microsoft · Windowsversion=10 for 32-bit Systems; version=10 for x64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems; version=10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; version=10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; version=10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems; version=10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems; version=10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems; version=7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1; version=7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1; version=8.1 for 32-bit systems; version=8.1 for x64-based systems; version=RT 8.1
Microsoft · Windows Serverversion=2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2; version=2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Core installation); version=2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2; version=2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2; version=2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Core installation); version=2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1; version=2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1; version=2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Core installation); version=2012; version=2012 (Core installation); version=2012 R2; version=2012 R2 (Core installation); version=2016; version=2016 (Core installation); version=2019; version=2019 (Core installation); version=version 1803 (Core Installation)
Microsoft · Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)version=unspecified
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1903version=unspecified

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo