Microsoft Windows
CVE-2020-0635 — Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Executive Summary
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Windows when Windows fails to properly handle certain symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could potentially set certain items to run at a higher level and thereby elevate permissions. 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 handles symbolic links.
Overview
7.8
CVSS HIGH
Important
MS Severity
Not Exploited
MS Exploit Status
Less Likely
MS Exploit Likelihood
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
ATTACK VECTOR
Local
ATTACK COMPLEXITY
Low
PRIVILEGES REQUIRED
Low
USER INTERACTION
None
SCOPE
Unchanged
CONFIDENTIALITY
High
INTEGRITY
High
AVAILABILITY
High
EXPLOIT CODE MATURITY
Proof-of-Concept
REMEDIATION LEVEL
Official Fix
REPORT CONFIDENCE
Confirmed
Temporal Score: 7.0
EPSS Score
0.01055
probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
0.60891 percentile - updated 2026-07-25
View on FIRST.org
Affected Products
27 affected products
| Product | KB Article | Severity | Impact | Restart Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems | 4534306 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 for x64-based Systems | 4534306 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems | 4534271 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems | 4534271 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems | 4534276 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems | 4534276 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems | 4534276 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems | 4534293 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems | 4534293 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems | 4534293 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems | 4534273 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems | 4534273 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems | 4534273 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 4534310 (Monthly Rollup) 4534314 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530734 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534310 Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 4534310 (Monthly Rollup) 4534314 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530734 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534310 Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems 4534297 (Monthly Rollup) 4534309 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530702 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534297 4534309 Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems 4534297 (Monthly Rollup) 4534309 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530702 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534297 4534309 Windows RT 8.1 | 4534297 (Monthly Rollup) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 4534303 (Monthly Rollup) 4534312 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530695 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes None Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) 4534303 (Monthly Rollup) 4534312 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530695 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes None Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2 4534303 (Monthly Rollup) 4534312 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530695 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes None Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 4534303 (Monthly Rollup) 4534312 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530695 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes None Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) 4534303 (Monthly Rollup) 4534312 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530695 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes None Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1 4534310 (Monthly Rollup) 4534314 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530734 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534310 Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 4534310 (Monthly Rollup) 4534314 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530734 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534310 Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) 4534310 (Monthly Rollup) 4534314 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530734 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534310 Windows Server 2012 4534283 (Monthly Rollup) 4534288 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530691 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534283 4534288 Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 4534283 (Monthly Rollup) 4534288 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530691 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534283 4534288 Windows Server 2012 R2 4534297 (Monthly Rollup) 4534309 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530702 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534297 4534309 Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 4534297 (Monthly Rollup) 4534309 (Security Only) Important Elevation of Privilege 4530702 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 7.0 Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C Yes 4534297 4534309 Windows Server 2016 | 4534271 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) | 4534271 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2019 | 4534273 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | 4534273 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation) | 4534293 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation) | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation) | 4528760 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
Patches
7 patches
| Article | Type | Restart |
|---|---|---|
4534306 |
Security Update | Yes |
4534271 |
Security Update | Yes |
4534276 |
Security Update | Yes |
4534293 |
Security Update | Yes |
4534273 |
Security Update | Yes |
4528760 |
Security Update | Yes |
4534297 |
Monthly Rollup | Yes |
Known Exploits
No known exploits have been linked for this CVE yet. When available, exploit references will be sourced from public repositories and may be unverified, incomplete, or non-functional. Always review code carefully before use in any environment.
Acknowledgments
Jarvis_1oop of Pinduoduo Security Research Lab
Zhiniang Peng ( @edwardzpeng
Eran Shimony
Jimmy Bayne ( @bohops
Glenn Lloyd working with Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative
References
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