CVEs / CVE-2020-0683
CVE-2020-0683: Microsoft Windows Installer Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 3 Nov 2021
- high 7.8 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
- EPSS 7.6% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
- Last changed at its sources
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Summary
Microsoft Windows Installer contains a privilege escalation vulnerability when MSI packages process symbolic links, which allows attackers to bypass access restrictions to add or remove files.
Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links, aka 'Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0686.
Affected and fixed versions
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 for 32-bit Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 for x64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 8.1 for 32-bit systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | 8.1 for x64-based systems | — |
| Microsoft Windows | RT 8.1 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | version 1803 (Core Installation) | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2019 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2019 (Core installation) | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2016 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2016 (Core installation) | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Core installation) | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Core installation) | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1 | — |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | — |
Exploitation
| In CISA KEV since | 3 Nov 2021 |
|---|---|
| Due date for US federal agencies | 3 May 2022 |
| Used in ransomware campaigns | Unknown |
| Required action | Apply updates per vendor instructions. |
Severity
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HScored by NVD |
|---|---|
| Weakness | CWE-59 |
References
- CVE-2020-0683 on NVD
- CVE-2020-0683 in the CISA KEV catalog
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0683 Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0683 US Government Resource
Sources
Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.