What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-0638?

CVE-2020-0638 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 2.9%.

Is CVE-2020-0638 being actively exploited?

Yes, CVE-2020-0638 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active in-the-wild exploitation. Immediate patching is required.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2020-0638?

Yes, a patch is available for CVE-2020-0638. Update the affected software to the latest version immediately.

Windows 10 1809 CVE-2020-0638

HIGH

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (CWE-59)

2020-01-14 secure@microsoft.com

Information Disclosure Microsoft Windows 10 1809 Windows Server 2019 Windows 10 1909 Windows 10 1709 Windows 10 1803 Windows Server 1803 Windows 10 1903 Windows Server 1903 Windows Server 1909

7.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-59 OWASP Top 10:2025 A01:2025 - Broken Access Control ASVS 5.0 V5 - File Handling Symlink resolution safety
Impact	CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: In CISA KEV with patch available.

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) Patch available 2.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

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. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-59. 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'. Affected products include: Microsoft Windows 10 1709, Microsoft Windows 10 1803, Microsoft Windows 10 1809, Microsoft Windows 10 1903, Microsoft Windows 10 1909.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH

AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

Added to CISA KEV

Jul 14, 2026 - 04:22 CISA

CVE Published

Jan 14, 2020 - 23:15 nvd

HIGH 7.8

DescriptionNVD

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'.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

2.9%

Top 15% exploitable

Data Quality

4 sources

Confidence: Medium

NVD

CVE.org

CISA KEV

EPSS

VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV Yes

Public POC No

EPSS 2.9%

Patch available Yes

Active threat Yes

Deciding rule

In CISA KEV with patch available

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Out-of-Cycle

Exploitation· derived

Active

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact· derived

High

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: +50

EPSS: +3

CVSS: +39

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information Disclosure MEDIUM

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1709:-:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1709:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1803:-:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1803:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:-:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1903:-:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1903:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1903:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1909:-:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1909:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1909:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_1803:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_1903:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_1909:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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References

Advisories & patches

PATCH https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0638 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/148651 REF https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0638

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