Summary
generated automatically from NVD dataCVE-2020-1472 is an elevation of privilege flaw in Microsoft Windows Server, affecting the Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC) when a vulnerable Netlogon secure channel is established with a domain controller. An unauthenticated attacker could connect to the domain controller and obtain domain administrator access. Microsoft is addressing it in a phased two-part rollout that changes how Netlogon handles secure channels. It is listed in the CISA KEV catalog, with known ransomware use, and carries a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
NVD description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when an attacker establishes a vulnerable Netlogon secure channel connection to a domain controller, using the Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC). An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run a specially crafted application on a device on the network. To exploit the vulnerability, an unauthenticated attacker would be required to use MS-NRPC to connect to a domain controller to obtain domain administrator access. Microsoft is addressing the vulnerability in a phased two-part rollout. These updates address the vulnerability by modifying how Netlogon handles the usage of Netlogon secure channels. For guidelines on how to manage the changes required for this vulnerability and more information on the phased rollout, see How to manage the changes in Netlogon secure channel connections associated with CVE-2020-1472 (updated September 28, 2020). When the second phase of Windows updates become available in Q1 2021, customers will be notified via a revision to this security vulnerability. If you wish to be notified when these updates are released, we recommend that you register for the security notifications mailer to be alerted of content changes to this advisory. See Microsoft Technical Security Notifications.
⚠️ Actively exploited — CISA KEV
This CVE was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03. It is confirmed exploited in the wild and must be patched as a priority.
Remediation deadline (US federal agencies): 2022-05-03
Used in known ransomware campaigns.
EPSS · FIRST.org
99.4%probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Higher than 99% of scored CVEs
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) estimates, from observed exploitation activity, how likely a CVE is to be exploited in the next 30 days. It complements CVSS, which measures severity, not likelihood. Score of 2026-10-19, recomputed daily by FIRST.org.
CVSS v3.1 Score
Information
- Published
- 17 août 2020
- Updated
- 17 juin 2026
- Status
- Analyzed
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
Affected products
Weaknesses (CWE)
References (35)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00080.htmlMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00086.htmlMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159190/Zerologon-Proof-Of-Concept.htmlThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160127/Zerologon-Netlogon-Privilege-Escalation.htmlExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/09/17/2Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00041.htmlMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1472PatchVendor Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202012-24Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4510-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4510-2/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4559-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/490028Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
- + 20 more references on NVD
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