Threats / Microsoft / CVE-2020-0986
CVE-2020-0986
· EUVD no mirror located
· GCVE no mirror located
Verified 2026-06-22
Microsoft Windows vulnerability
Microsoft Windows kernel vulnerability in memory object handling allows privilege escalation and kernel-mode code execution. Actively exploited in the wild.
Verdict
Today item — known-exploited.
Out-of-bounds write vulnerability enabling local attackers to escalate from user to kernel privileges. Active exploitation observed. Requires local access or prior code execution foothold.
01
Is it exploitable?
— the evidence, ranked above the scoreReported exploitation
5 independent public reports of in-the-wild exploitation are cataloged.Distinct reporting sources (vendor, incident response, government); open them for the underlying claims.
Exploited in the wild
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03).
Probability (EPSS)
EPSS 0.15932 — modeled likelihood of exploitation activity.EPSS is a daily-changing model output — open the source for today's value.
Severity / affected
Affected: Microsoft, Windows. Confirm exact fixed builds in the vendor advisory.
Weakness (CWE)
Mapped to CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write — weakness family: Memory safety.CWE assignment from the public NVD record; the weakness class drives how the flaw is exploited.
02
Who’s exploiting it?
— attribution turns risk into urgencyAttribution not established
No confirmed (advisory-backed) threat-actor attribution is established for this record. Absence of a named actor is not absence of compromise — see Coverage & confidence.
03
Why it matters
— the attack path, told twice: adversary, then board1
Front door — unauthenticated access narrative 1
Attacker
I craft a malicious input that triggers an out-of-bounds write in the Windows kernel memory object handler.
Business
Attacker gains kernel-level code execution, bypassing all user-mode security boundaries and access controls.
2
Keys to the kingdom — privilege/identity takeover narrative 2
Attacker
I leverage kernel execution to disable security features, install rootkits, or modify system policies without detection.
Business
Complete system compromise with persistent, undetectable malware installation and administrative control.
3
Lateral reach — past segmentation narrative 3
Attacker
I exfiltrate sensitive data, modify audit logs, or pivot to other systems on the network using kernel-level access.
Business
Data breach, compliance violations, lateral movement enabling enterprise-wide compromise.
04
What to do
— defensible action- Remediate per the vendor advisory — confirm the fixed build for your version and verify exposure.1
Say it to the boardA vulnerability with this evidence profile is a defensible budget line, not a backlog ticket — fund the change against the proof above.
05