High 7.8Known exploited (CISA KEV)Published Jun 9, 2020

CVE-2020-0986An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.

Updated under an hour ago (2026-10-19 09:50 UTC)

Does this affect you?

It affects Microsoft Windows and 30 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

CISA lists it as known exploited since Nov 3, 2021; federal agencies had to remediate by May 3, 2022. Treat that date as your deadline.

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Every CVE for Microsoft Windows

Exploited in the last 30 days

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1237, CVE-2020-1246, CVE-2020-1262, CVE-2020-1264, CVE-2020-1266, CVE-2020-1269, CVE-2020-1273, CVE-2020-1274, CVE-2020-1275, CVE-2020-1276, CVE-2020-1307, CVE-2020-1316.

CVSS: 7.8 HIGH (v3.1, CISA ADP)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-787
Known exploited: Added to CISA KEV Nov 3, 2021; federal remediation due May 3, 2022Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 16.41% (percentile 97)
Assigned by: microsoft
NVD analysis: Analyzed
Record last updated: Oct 21, 2025
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 9, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

Microsoft Windows microsoft:windows (from the name)	10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; and 8 more ranges	CNA record
Microsoft Windows Server microsoft:windows_server (from the name)	version 1803 (Core Installation); 2019; 2019 (Core installation); 2016; 2016 (Core installation); 2012; 2012 (Core installation); 2012 R2; and 1 more ranges	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_1909_for_32_bit_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_1909_for_x64_based_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_1909_for_arm64_based_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation) microsoft:windows_server_version_1909_server_core_installation (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_1903_for_32_bit_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_1903_for_x64_based_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_1903_for_arm64_based_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation) microsoft:windows_server_version_1903_server_core_installation (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004 for 32-bit Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_2004_for_32_bit_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows Server, version 2004 (Server Core installation) microsoft:windows_server_version_2004_server_core_installation (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004 for ARM64-based Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_2004_for_arm64_based_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems microsoft:windows_10_version_2004_for_x64_based_systems (from the name)	unspecified	CNA record
microsoft windows_10_1507 microsoft:windows_10_1507	all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_1607 microsoft:windows_10_1607	all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_1709 microsoft:windows_10_1709	all versions; all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_1803 microsoft:windows_10_1803	all versions; all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_1809 microsoft:windows_10_1809	all versions; all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_1903 microsoft:windows_10_1903	all versions; all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_1909 microsoft:windows_10_1909	all versions; all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_10_2004 microsoft:windows_10_2004	all versions; all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_8.1 microsoft:windows_8.1	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_rt_8.1 microsoft:windows_rt_8.1	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_1803 microsoft:windows_server_1803	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_1903 microsoft:windows_server_1903	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_1909 microsoft:windows_server_1909	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2004 microsoft:windows_server_2004	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2012 microsoft:windows_server_2012	all versions; r2	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2016 microsoft:windows_server_2016	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2019 microsoft:windows_server_2019	all versions	NVD

References

https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0986x-refsource-misc, patch, vendor-advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160698/Microsoft-Windows-splWOW64-Privilege-Escalation.htmlx-refsource-misc, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0986us-government-resource

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.