CVE-2020-0787
Microsoft Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
Microsoft Windows
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) improperly handles symbolic links, aka 'Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2020-0787
The group emerged in mid-February 2024 and has already listed several organizations as alleged victims of their attacks, resulting from extortion through encryption and data leaks. The announcement of the sale of the new Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) by Ranso
Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2020-0787 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 28 January 2022. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 28 July 2022. CISA records this vulnerability as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 42.5%, which is higher than 98.6% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Recent listings by these groups
Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2020-0787 being exploited by ransomware groups?
Yes. CVE-2020-0787 is recorded as exploited by Ransomhub. Between them these groups account for 842 victim disclosures in this database. CISA also records this vulnerability as used in ransomware campaigns.
What does CVE-2020-0787 affect?
CVE-2020-0787 affects Microsoft Windows. An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) improperly handles symbolic links, aka 'Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
How severe is CVE-2020-0787?
CVE-2020-0787 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 42.5%, higher than 98.6% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 28 July 2022.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2020-0787?
Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Windows as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.