November 3, 2021 · Applied Cybernetics Group
CVE-2020-1054 — Microsoft Win32k
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Added to KEV
2021-11-03- Federal due date
2022-05-03- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Win32k
- EPSS
- 99.0th percentile (score 0.542, as of
2026-09-16) - NVD CVSS v3.1
- 7 (HIGH)
- Ransomware use
- Unknown
- Upstream
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1054
CISA short description
Microsoft Win32k contains a privilege escalation vulnerability when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute code in kernel mode.
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
NVD description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system. The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.