Actively exploited in the wild
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Microsoft - Win32k · Listed in the CISA KEV since 2021-11-03. This indicates confirmed attacks in production environments.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CVE-2020-1054
HighCVSS 7.0KEVExploitation Probability (EPSS)
Very high risk99th percentile - higher than 99% of all known CVEs
Summary
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode, install programs, view/change/delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights.
Risk Assessment
Exploitation could lead to full system compromise with administrative privileges. However, the attacker must first log on to the system.
Recommendation
It is recommended to immediately install the Windows update that corrects how the kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.
Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows
See all- CVE-2017-8467High
In Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016, there is a vulnerability that allows elevation of privilege due to the way it handles objects in memory.
- CVE-2016-0009High
The vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
- CVE-2024-21412HighActively exploited
Security feature bypass vulnerability in Internet Shortcut Files. Allows an attacker to bypass system security features.
- CVE-2023-21823HighActively exploited
Windows Graphics Component Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Details are not provided in the description, but it allows remote code execution.
- CVE-2021-41379MediumActively exploited
Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Details are not provided in the description, but it allows privilege escalation.
- CVE-2021-41357HighActively exploited
Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Technical details are not provided in the description, but it is a vulnerability allowing privilege escalation.
- CVE-2021-40450HighActively exploited
Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Technical details are not provided in the description, but it is a vulnerability allowing privilege escalation.
- CVE-2021-40449HighActively exploited
Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Technical details are not provided in the description, but it is a vulnerability allowing privilege escalation.
- CVE-2020-1472MediumActively exploited
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when an attacker establishes a vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connection to a domain controller, using the Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC). An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run a specially crafted application on a device on the network. To exploit the vulnerability, an unauthenticated attacker would be required to use MS-NRPC to connect to a domain controller to obtain domain administrator access.
- CVE-2019-1322HighActively exploited
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles authentication requests, aka 'Microsoft Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. It could allow an attacker to gain higher privileges.
Original NVD description (English source)
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system. The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.
Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS

