CVE-2020-0798

SYSTEM code execution via insecure library loading

Published Mar 12, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Windows Installer elevation of privilege in affected Microsoft Windows releases allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. Windows Installer does not properly sanitize installation input before resolving a library, allowing an attacker-controlled library to load in an elevated process. A local authenticated session and crafted installer input are required; successful exploitation grants SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.04%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Windows Installer elevation of privilege in affected Microsoft Windows releases allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. Windows Installer does not properly sanitize installation input before resolving a library, allowing an attacker-controlled library to load in an elevated process. A local authenticated session and crafted installer input are required; successful exploitation grants SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-0798
Published
Mar 12, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1909
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 12, 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

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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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1909version=unspecified
Microsoft · Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)version=unspecified
Microsoft · Windowsversion=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
Microsoft · Windows Serverversion=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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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