CVE-2020-1054: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
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.
Published May 21, 2020 · Updated Oct 8, 2026
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Advisory details
From the National Vulnerability Database. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.
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.
References
How this page is made: the data panel comes from the GitHub Advisory Database, CISA’s KEV catalog, the NVD and FIRST EPSS, and updates twice a day. No analysis has been written for this entry yet. Methodology
More Microsoft vulnerabilities
All Microsoft entriesCVE-2026-96951
Microsoft Windows Command Injection Vulnerability
high8.8ExploitedOct 13, 2026CVE-2026-81963
Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability
high7.8ExploitedSep 8, 2026CVE-2026-85880
Microsoft Windows Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
high7.8ExploitedSep 8, 2026CVE-2026-65660
Microsoft SharePoint Code Injection Vulnerability
high8.8ExploitedAug 11, 2026CVE-2026-68820
Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Use-After-Free Vulnerability
high7.0ExploitedAug 11, 2026CVE-2026-50522
Microsoft SharePoint Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
critical9.8ExploitedJul 14, 2026
