CVE-2020-0733
About
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) improperly handles junctions.To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system, aka 'Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
Rainforest analyst review
This is a local privilege-escalation bug: the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool mishandles NTFS junctions, so an attacker who can already run code as a normal user can redirect MSRT's file operations to land writes where they shouldn't and climb to higher privilege. The advisory is explicit that exploitation requires first gaining execution on the box, so this is never how someone gets in.
What that precondition means in practice is that this bug only shows up as one link in a chain, after a foothold already exists. It's the kind of primitive an operator reaches for to turn a limited user session into SYSTEM, not something mass-scanning botnets can touch. There's no remote surface, no unauthenticated trigger, and no urgency for anything perimeter-facing.
We rank this well below its 7.8 for exposure-driven prioritization, because the CVSS score doesn't reflect that it's gated behind prior compromise. Where we do care is multi-user and shared hosts, where a local low-privilege account escalating to SYSTEM is a real boundary violation. The action is knowing which machines carry the affected MSRT build; it slots into hardening, not emergency patching.
References
Related CVEs
No related CVEs.
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2020-0733?
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) improperly handles junctions.To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system, aka 'Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
How severe is CVE-2020-0733?
CVE-2020-0733 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated high. On the Rainforest Risk Index — which weighs the severity alongside how easy the flaw is to reach and how broad its impact is — it scores 73 out of 100, in the high band.
How is CVE-2020-0733 exploited?
According to the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H): attack vector Local, attack complexity Low, privileges required Low, user interaction None. Impact on confidentiality High, integrity High and availability High.
Which products are affected by CVE-2020-0733?
Public advisories list the following as affected: windows malicious software removal tool. Check the references on this page for the exact versions each vendor confirms.
How do I fix CVE-2020-0733?
Apply the fix the vendor published — the references on this page link to the primary advisories and patches. When patching can't happen right away, reduce the exposure of the affected component and watch it for exploitation attempts. Rainforest customers see this vulnerability correlated to their own assets and prioritized by real exposure, not by score alone.
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