Is CVE-2020-0787 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2020-0787 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on January 28, 2022.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2020-0787?

CVE-2020-0787 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

CVE-2020-0787

HIGH · CVSS 7.8CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 42.5%EU EUVD: exploited

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'.

Key facts

CVSS score: 7.8 (v3.1)
Severity: HIGH
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-59
EPSS score: 42.5% (99th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added January 28, 2022
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2020-2274)
Published: March 12, 2020
NVD last modified: August 12, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on January 28, 2022; federal remediation due July 28, 2022. Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2020-2274 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on August 12, 2026.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

microsoft / windows 10 1507
microsoft / windows 10 1607
microsoft / windows 10 1709
microsoft / windows 10 1803
microsoft / windows 10 1809
microsoft / windows 10 1903
microsoft / windows 10 1909
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows 8.1
microsoft / windows rt 8.1
microsoft / windows server 1803
microsoft / windows server 1903
microsoft / windows server 1909
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2012
microsoft / windows server 2012
microsoft / windows server 2016
microsoft / windows server 2019

Certified products that may be affected

2 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified products, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.

Windows 7 BitLocker™ Drive Encryption - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1332 - historical
Microsoft Windows 7 Kernel Mode Cryptographic Primitives Library (cng.sys) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1328 - historical

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158056/Background-Intelligent-Transfer-Service-Privilege-Escalation.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0787(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0787(US Government Resource)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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