CVE-2020-12981

Local privilege escalation via unchecked driver unload

Published Jun 11, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Insufficient input validation in AMD Radeon Software before 20.7.1 allows local users to escalate privileges or interrupt service. The Windows graphics driver accepts an insufficiently validated local request that unloads the driver and can corrupt memory in privileged processes. Low-privileged local access is required, and successful exploitation can elevate privileges or cause a service interruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insufficient input validation in AMD Radeon Software before 20.7.1 allows local users to escalate privileges or interrupt service. The Windows graphics driver accepts an insufficiently validated local request that unloads the driver and can corrupt memory in privileged processes. Low-privileged local access is required, and successful exploitation can elevate privileges or cause a service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12981
Published
Jun 11, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
AMD
Product
Radeon Software
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise <21.Q2
  2. Affected versionversion=Radeon Software <20.7.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

AMD · Radeon Softwareversion=Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise <21.Q2; version=Radeon Software <20.7.1

Published CVSS scores

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

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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