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CVE-2020-16940

7.8 · HIGH

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows User Profile Service (ProfSvc) improperly handles junction points.

Published Oct 16, 2020CWE-269EPSS 1.55%

Overview

CVE-2020-16940 is a high-severity vulnerability. It was published on October 16, 2020 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

Technical description

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows User Profile Service (ProfSvc) improperly handles junction points. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could delete files and folders in an elevated context.</p>

<p>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 delete files or folders of their choosing.</p>

<p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows User Profile Service handles junction points.</p>

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

References

Refportal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16940Refwww.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1248/Refportal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16940Refwww.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1248/

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-16940?

CVE-2020-16940 is a high-severity vulnerability. It was published on October 16, 2020 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2020-16940?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2020-16940?

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2020-16940?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2020-16940 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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