CVE-2020-0986 Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation

Exploited in the wild High 7.8 Published 9 Jun 2020 Updated 21 Oct 2025

An attacker can exploit improper memory handling in the Windows kernel to elevate privileges on affected systems.

Exploited in the wild: Since 3 Nov 2021
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2020-0986?

CVE-2020-0986 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1507, published on 9 Jun 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1237, CVE-2020-1246, CVE-2020-1262, CVE-2020-1264, CVE-2020-1266, CVE-2020-1269, CVE-2020-1273, CVE-2020-1274, CVE-2020-1275, CVE-2020-1276, CVE-2020-1307, CVE-2020-1316.

Weakness: CWE-787

Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-0986?

It affects 17 products.

Products include Microsoft Windows 10 1507, Microsoft Windows 10 1607, Microsoft Windows 10 1709, Microsoft Windows 10 1803, Microsoft Windows 10 1809, Microsoft Windows 10 1903 and 11 more.

How do I fix CVE-2020-0986?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-0986 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2020-0986 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-0986 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

All Microsoft Windows 10 1507 vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-5wgx-4x92-f6pf.