Microsoft Malware Protection Engine
CVE-2020-0733 — Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Executive Summary
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) improperly handles junctions. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application to elevate privileges. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) handles junctions.
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
ATTACK VECTOR
Local
ATTACK COMPLEXITY
Low
PRIVILEGES REQUIRED
Low
USER INTERACTION
None
SCOPE
Unchanged
EPSS Score
0.0082
probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
0.54085 percentile - updated 2026-08-14
View on FIRST.org
Affected Products
2 affected products
| Product | KB Article | Severity | Impact | Restart Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 32-bit | 891716 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | No |
| Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 64-bit | 891716 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | No |
Patches
1 patch
| Article | Type | Restart |
|---|---|---|
891716 |
Security Update | No |
Exploits & PoC
No public exploit or PoC has been linked for this CVE yet. When available, references are sourced from public repositories and may be unverified or non-functional — review carefully before use.
Detection Rules
No public Sigma or Nuclei detection rule has been mapped to this CVE yet. Coverage is concentrated on exploited / high-profile vulnerabilities; check SigmaHQ for updates.
Acknowledgments
Wenxu Wu (@ma7h1as)
References
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