CVE-2020-0638
KEVRansomware UseMicrosoft Update Notification Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
Microsoft Update Notification Manager contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way the Update Notification Manager handles files.To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system, aka 'Update Notification Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
CVSS 3.1 vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HPublishedJan 14, 2020
Last modifiedAug 12, 2026
Added to KEVMay 23, 2022
Remediation dueJun 13, 2022
References
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0638PatchVendor Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0638US Government Resource
0 recent articles mention this CVE
79
Risk assessment · High
Actively exploited and used by ransomware crews. Patch immediately.
- Exploitation
- Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Federal remediation deadline
- Overdue by 1597 days
- Ransomware
- Used in known ransomware campaigns
- CVSS
- 7.8 HIGH
- EPSS (30-day exploit probability)
- 2.4% · top 16% of all CVEs
- Weakness
- NVD-CWE-noinfo
Recommended actions
- 1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- 2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
- 3.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.
- 4.Verify offline/immutable backups and segment the affected systems. This flaw is used for ransomware initial access.
Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.