CVE-2020-1472 — Microsoft Netlogon Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
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.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
- Used in ransomware campaigns (CISA)+10
- Exploited by 6 threat actor(s) (MITRE ATT&CK)+10
- Public exploit/PoC (metasploit, exploitdb)+20
- EPSS 99.4% (30-day exploitation probability)+15
- Technical severity (medium)+3
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — portal.msrc.microsoft.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — www.oracle.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
CISA required action CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal deadline: May 3, 2022 — passed 1626 day(s) ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora…).
- Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- EPSS ahead of 100% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical | Ubuntu Linux | version 14.04version 16.04version 18.04version 20.04 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Debian | Debian Linux | version 9.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Fedoraproject | Fedora | version 32version 33version 31 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 1903 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 1909 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2004 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 | version r2-sp1 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 | ≥ 6.1.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 6.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | versions not specified by the sourceversion r2 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | ≥ 6.2.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 6.2.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 | ≥ 6.3.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 6.3.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 20h2 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server version 2004 | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server version 20H2 | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation) | ≥ 10.0.0 and < publication | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Opensuse | Leap | version 15.2version 15.1 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Oracle | Zfs Storage Appliance Kit | version 8.8 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Samba | Samba | < 4.10.18≥ 4.11.0 and < 4.11.13≥ 4.12.0 and < 4.12.7 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Synology | Directory Server | < 4.4.5-0101 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | 3.9 | 6.0 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 10.0 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 1.8 | 3.6 | secure@microsoft.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | microsoft via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 9.3 | CVSS 2.0 | High | 8.6 | 10.0 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N (score shown at the top: secure@microsoft.com) CISA KEV details CISA
CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.
Public exploits, PoCs and detection templates
Public code that demonstrates or tests the flaw raises the odds of mass exploitation — and Nuclei templates help find vulnerable assets in your environment.
- ZeroLogon - Netlogon Elevation of Privilege Nov 18, 2020
Warning: public PoCs are sometimes disguised malware. Use them only for authorized testing in an isolated environment. This portal does not host exploit code — it only points to the sources.
Threat actors exploiting this CVE MITRE ATT&CK
According to MITRE ATT&CK.
Dragonfly G0035Earth Lusca G1006FIN7 G0046menuPass G0045MuddyWater G0069Wizard Spider G0102Associated ransomware groups ransomware.live
contiEPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 99.39%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Hunt retroactively in logs from before Nov 3, 2021 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · microsoft/windows server version 2004, microsoft/windows server 2019, microsoft/windows server 2019 (server core install
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · microsoft/windows server 1903, microsoft/windows server 1909, microsoft/windows server 2004, microsoft/windows server 20
- CVSS changed · 5.5
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Added to CISA KEV (detected)
- Record created in this database
- 2021
- Added to CISA KEV catalog
- 2020
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
29 on the record
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1472
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ST6X
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-gc5h-xf3g-h5x4
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/H4OT
- usn.ubuntu.com/4510-1/
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/159190/Zerologon-Proof-Of-Concept.html
- usn.ubuntu.com/4559-1
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/09/17/2
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/H4OT
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TAPQ
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/H4OTFB
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/160127/Zerologon-Netlogon-Privilege-Escalation.html
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202012-24
- usn.ubuntu.com/4510-2
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00080.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ST6X3A
- www.synology.com/security/advisory/Synology_SA_20_21
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00041.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TAPQQZ
- usn.ubuntu.com/4559-1/
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00086.html
- usn.ubuntu.com/4510-2/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TAPQ
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1472
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ST6X
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/490028
- usn.ubuntu.com/4510-1
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-97844 Role: DNS Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability 1d
- Medium CVE-2026-97839 Role: DNS Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability 1d
- Medium CVE-2026-97843 Role: DNS Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability 1d
- Medium CVE-2026-97840 Role: DNS Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability 1d
- Medium CVE-2026-97841 Role: DNS Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability 1d
- Medium CVE-2026-97842 Role: DNS Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2020-1472 is "Microsoft Netlogon Privilege Escalation Vulnerability", rated Medium. It affects Ubuntu Linux (Canonical); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 5.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 99.39% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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