CVEs / CVE-2020-0787
CVE-2020-0787: Microsoft Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
- Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 28 Jan 2022
- high 7.8 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
- EPSS 42.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 98% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
- Last changed at its sources
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Summary
Microsoft Windows BITS is vulnerable to to a privilege elevation vulnerability if it improperly handles symbolic links. An actor can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges.
Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) improperly handles symbolic links, aka 'Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
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 | 28 Jan 2022 |
|---|---|
| Due date for US federal agencies | 28 Jul 2022 |
| Used in ransomware campaigns | Known |
| Required action | Apply updates per vendor instructions. |
Severity
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HScored by NVD |
|---|---|
| Weakness | CWE-59 |
References
- CVE-2020-0787 on NVD
- CVE-2020-0787 in the CISA KEV catalog
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158056/Background-Intelligent-Transfer-Service-Privilege-Escalation.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0787 Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0787 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.