BlackTreeCVE Intelligence
← Back to the CVE catalogue
Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2020-0638High confidence

Microsoft Update Notification Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft · Update Notification Manager

7.8HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-06-13 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityHighOperational priority:Critical, raised one band.upgradedsince 23 May 2022

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
  • EPSS is 2.37% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Microsoft Update Notification Manager and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2020-2132

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

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'.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 23 May 2022. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
7.8 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-06-13 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

Microsoft Update Notification Manager contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

What

Microsoft Update Notification Manager contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

Why

The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.

What

Microsoft Update Notification Manager contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

Why

The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2022-05-23. Known ransomware campaign use is recorded.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') → gain additional privileges
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-59 ↗

CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'). The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
Privilege escalationCWE-59CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2132Known-exploited evidence recorded

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'.

Official EUVD record ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2020-AVI-026Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Windows

.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0629 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0630 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0630 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0631 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0631 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0632 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0632 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0633 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0633 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0634 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0634 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0635 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0635 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0636 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0636 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0637 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0637 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0638 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0638 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0639 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0639 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0641 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0641 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0642 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0642 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0643 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0643 Référence CVE CVE-2020-0644 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-0644 Gestion détaillée du document le 14 janvier 2020 Version initiale Alertes Avis Bulletins d’actualités Mentions légales Conditions générales À propos Contact cyber.gouv.fr service-public.fr legifrance.gouv.fr info.gouv.fr france

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2020-001090Microsoft Windows 10 および Microsoft Windows Server における権限を昇格される脆弱性

Microsoft Windows 10 および Microsoft Windows Server には、Update Notification Manager がファイルを処理する方法に不備があるため、権限を昇格される脆弱性が存在します。 ベンダは、本脆弱性を「Update Notification Manager の特権の昇格の脆弱性」として公開しています。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5087MS 1월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

- 권한상승 취약점(CVE-2020-0613, CVE-2020-0614, CVE-2020-0620, CVE-2020-0623, CVE-2020-0624, CVE-2020-0625, CVE-2020-0626, CVE-2020-0627, CVE-2020-0628, CVE-2020-0629, CVE-2020-0630, CVE-2020-0631, CVE-2020-0632, CVE-2020-0633, CVE-2020-0634, CVE-2020-0635, CVE-2020-0636, CVE-2020-0638, CVE-2020-0641, CVE-2020-0642, CVE-2020-0644)

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 14 Jan 2020 · Last source change 12 Aug 2026, 03:56 UTC · CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2132
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCISA ADP
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    After
    Windows: 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems, 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems, 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems, 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems, 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems, 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems, 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems, 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems, 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems; Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems: unspecified; Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems: unspecified; Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems: unspecified; Windows Server: 2019, 2019 (Core installation), version 1803 (Core Installation); Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation): unspecified; Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems: unspecified; Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems: unspecified; Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation): unspecified; Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems: unspecified · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Added to CISA KEV
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2132↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2020-0638 · cve.blacktree.nl