What’s Vulnerable › Vulnerabilities

CVE-2020-16908: Windows Setup Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.2 v2.0)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 1.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2020-10-16 · updated 2026-06-17

Description

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows Setup in the way it handles directories.</p> <p>A locally authenticated attacker could run arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. After successfully exploiting the vulnerability, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring Windows Setup properly handles directories.</p>

Affected products

• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607: 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, 2004
• Microsoft Windows 10 1803: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 1909: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 2004: all versions

References

• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16908
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16908

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