CVE-2020-0787
Published 2020-03-12 · Updated 2026-08-12 · Source secure@microsoft.com
Summary
CVE-2020-0787 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.8) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on January 28, 2022, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed; US federal agencies had to remediate it by July 28, 2022. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns, so it should be prioritised accordingly. Microsoft has 390 vulnerabilities in the KEV catalog, 117 of them linked to ransomware.
All 390 known-exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities →Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) improperly handles symbolic links, aka 'Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA Known-Exploited Vulnerability
Product: Microsoft — Windows
Name: Microsoft Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
Date added: 2022-01-28 · Due: 2022-07-28
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158056/Background-Intelligent-Transfer-Service-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0787
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158056/Background-Intelligent-Transfer-Service-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0787
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0787

