{"schemaVersion":3,"id":"CVE-2020-0638","aliases":[],"status":"published","duplicateOf":null,"title":"Microsoft Update Notification Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability","description":"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'.","dates":{"published":"2020-01-14T23:11:35.000Z","modified":"2026-08-12T03:56:03.563Z","reserved":null,"kevAdded":["2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z"],"kevDue":["2022-06-13T00:00:00.000Z"]},"cvss":{"headline":{"score":7.8,"severity":"high","version":"3.1","versionLabel":"v3.1","source":"CVE.org","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","computed":false,"selection":"backend-summary"},"metrics":[{"version":"3.1","versionLabel":"v3.1","source":"CVE.org","score":7.8,"severity":"high","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","exploitability":null,"impact":null,"computed":false},{"version":"3.1","versionLabel":"v3.1","source":"NVD","score":7.8,"severity":"high","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","exploitability":null,"impact":null,"computed":false},{"version":"2.0","versionLabel":"v2.0","source":"NVD","score":4.6,"severity":"medium","vector":"AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P","exploitability":null,"impact":null,"computed":false}]},"epss":{"probability":0.0237,"percentile":0.83578,"severity":"low","asOf":"2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z","change":{"pp":-0.672,"baselineDate":"2026-09-19T00:00:00.000Z","baselineScore":0.03042},"history":[{"date":"2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-17T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-19T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-20T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-21T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-22T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-26T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-27T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-28T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-02T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-03T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-07T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-08T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-10T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-11T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-12T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-17T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-18T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":0.83578}],"last30":[{"date":"2026-09-19T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-20T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-21T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-22T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.03042,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-26T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-27T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-28T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-02T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-03T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.02351,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-07T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-08T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-10T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-11T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-12T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-17T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-18T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":null},{"date":"2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z","score":0.0237,"percentile":0.83578}]},"kev":{"state":"listed","entries":[{"source":"cisa","sourceLabel":"CISA","dateAdded":"2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z","dueDate":"2022-06-13T00:00:00.000Z","requiredAction":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","name":"Microsoft Update Notification Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability","description":"Microsoft Update Notification Manager contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.","notes":[{"type":"url","href":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0638","label":"nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0638"}],"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Update Notification Manager","ransomware":true,"ransomwareUse":"Known","exploitationType":null}],"listedCount":1,"totalCatalogs":3,"catalogs":[{"source":"cisa","label":"CISA","listed":true,"entry":{"source":"cisa","sourceLabel":"CISA","dateAdded":"2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z","dueDate":"2022-06-13T00:00:00.000Z","requiredAction":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","name":"Microsoft Update Notification Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability","description":"Microsoft Update Notification Manager contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.","notes":[{"type":"url","href":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0638","label":"nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0638"}],"vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Update Notification Manager","ransomware":true,"ransomwareUse":"Known","exploitationType":null}},{"source":"enisa","label":"ENISA","listed":false,"entry":null},{"source":"circl","label":"CIRCL","listed":false,"entry":null}]},"ransomware":{"state":"known","sources":["cisa"]},"exploits":[],"exploitCount":0,"weaknesses":[{"id":"CWE-59","name":"Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')","description":"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.","type":"weakness","status":"Draft","abstraction":"Base","likelihoodOfExploit":"Medium","url":"https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/59.html"}],"affected":[{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows","name":"Windows","label":"windows","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"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","eol":{"isEol":null,"eolDate":null,"matchMethod":"cpe","cycle":null,"product":{"name":"windows","label":"Microsoft Windows","category":"os"}},"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_10_1709","name":"windows 10 1709","label":"windows_10_1709","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_1709"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_10_1803","name":"windows 10 1803","label":"windows_10_1803","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_1803"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_10_1809","name":"windows 10 1809","label":"windows_10_1809","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_1809"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_10_1903","name":"windows 10 1903","label":"windows_10_1903","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_1903"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_10_1909","name":"windows 10 1909","label":"windows_10_1909","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_1909"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows 10 version 1903 for 32-bit systems","name":"Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems","label":"windows 10 version 1903 for 32-bit systems","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_version_1903_for_32-bit_systems"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows 10 version 1903 for arm64-based systems","name":"Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems","label":"windows 10 version 1903 for arm64-based systems","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_version_1903_for_arm64-based_systems"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows 10 version 1903 for x64-based systems","name":"Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems","label":"windows 10 version 1903 for x64-based systems","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_version_1903_for_x64-based_systems"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows 10 version 1909 for 32-bit systems","name":"Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems","label":"windows 10 version 1909 for 32-bit systems","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_version_1909_for_32-bit_systems"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows 10 version 1909 for arm64-based systems","name":"Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems","label":"windows 10 version 1909 for arm64-based systems","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_version_1909_for_arm64-based_systems"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows 10 version 1909 for x64-based systems","name":"Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems","label":"windows 10 version 1909 for x64-based systems","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_10_version_1909_for_x64-based_systems"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_server","name":"windows server","label":"windows_server","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"2019","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"2019  (Core installation)","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null},{"text":"version 1803  (Core Installation)","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"2019 | 2019  (Core installation) | version 1803  (Core Installation)","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_server_1803","name":"windows server 1803","label":"windows_server_1803","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server_1803"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_server_1903","name":"windows server 1903","label":"windows_server_1903","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server_1903"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_server_1909","name":"windows server 1909","label":"windows_server_1909","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server_1909"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows_server_2019","name":"windows server 2019","label":"windows_server_2019","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"o","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"na","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"na","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server_2019"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows server, version 1903 (server core installation)","name":"Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)","label":"windows server, version 1903 (server core installation)","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server_version_1903_server_core_installation"},{"vendor":"microsoft","product":"windows server, version 1909 (server core installation)","name":"Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)","label":"windows server, version 1909 (server core installation)","ecosystem":null,"cpePart":"a","purl":null,"purlType":null,"versions":[{"text":"unspecified","noFixRecorded":false,"fixedIn":null}],"versionsText":"unspecified","eol":null,"hubHref":"/vendor/microsoft/windows_server_version_1909_server_core_installation"}],"affectedCount":19,"eol":{"hasEol":false,"count":0},"references":[{"url":"https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0638","label":"portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0638","hostname":"portal.msrc.microsoft.com","tags":["X Refsource MISC","Patch","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0638","label":"www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0638","hostname":"www.cisa.gov","tags":["Government Resource","US Government Resource"]}],"lineage":{"upstream":[],"downstream":[],"duplicates":[],"related":[]},"timeline":[{"kind":"published","date":"2020-01-14T23:11:35.000Z","label":"Published","detail":"Vulnerability first disclosed.","source":null},{"kind":"kev-added","date":"2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z","label":"Added to CISA KEV","detail":"Microsoft Update Notification Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability","source":"cisa"},{"kind":"kev-due","date":"2022-06-13T00:00:00.000Z","label":"CISA remediation due","detail":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","source":"cisa"},{"kind":"modified","date":"2026-08-12T03:56:03.563Z","label":"Last modified","detail":"Vulnerability information updated.","source":null}],"risk":{"score":90,"level":"critical","profile":"Default","thresholds":{"critical":75,"high":50,"medium":25,"low":10}},"meta":{"dataAsOf":"2026-10-20T13:09:02.146Z","stale":false,"partial":false}}