CVE-2020-1472: Microsoft Netlogon Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Patch now

MEDIUM 5.5EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-1472 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting windows server 1903, windows server 1909, windows server 2004, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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 o

Why this priority

EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Used in ransomware campaigns
Public exploit reference
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	99.4% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-05-03, used in ransomware
Published	2020-08-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Microsoft Corporation · Vendor: microsoft

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-08-17 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2021-11-03Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-05-03Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 03:01 UTCUpdated Record last modified

microsoft windows server 1903 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows server 1909 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows server 2004 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows server 2008 MITIGATE

Affected: r2 sp1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before r2

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows server 2012 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions · r2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before r2

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows server 2016 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · feh · FIXED · 3.13.1-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-3c76a13a4f · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-3c76a13a4f

Fedora ELN · setroubleshoot · FIXED · 3.3.37-7.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-f81b122fe1 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-f81b122fe1

Ubuntu 20.04 · samba · FIXED · 2:4.11.6+dfsg-0ubuntu1.5

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade samba dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' samba)" ge "2:4.11.6+dfsg-0ubuntu1.5" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 12 · samba · FIXED · 2:4.13.2+dfsg-2

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade samba dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' samba)" ge "2:4.13.2+dfsg-2" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · samba · FIXED · 2:4.13.2+dfsg-2

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade samba dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' samba)" ge "2:4.13.2+dfsg-2" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 7 · samba · FIXED · samba-4.10.16-9.el7_9

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:5439 rpm -q samba

RHEL 8 · openchange · FIXED · openchange-2.3-27.el8

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2021:1647 rpm -q openchange

RHEL 8 · samba · FIXED · samba-4.13.3-3.el8

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2021:1647 rpm -q samba

RHEL 5 · samba · DEFERRED

RHEL 6 · samba · NO FIX YET

Alpine 3.20 · samba · FIXED · samba-4.12.7-r0

apk add --upgrade samba apk info -v samba

Alpine 3.21 · samba · FIXED · samba-4.12.7-r0

apk add --upgrade samba apk info -v samba

Alpine 3.22 · samba · FIXED · samba-4.12.7-r0

apk add --upgrade samba apk info -v samba

Alpine 3.23 · samba · FIXED · samba-4.12.7-r0

apk add --upgrade samba apk info -v samba

Amazon Linux 2 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2-2021-1585 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS2-2021-1585

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2021-1469 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2021-1469

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: bvcyber/CVE-2020-1472 (1840 stars)
GitHub PoC: dirkjanm/CVE-2020-1472 (1333 stars)
GitHub PoC: risksense/zerologon (709 stars)
Write-up: usn.ubuntu.com/4510-2/
Write-up: usn.ubuntu.com/4559-1/
Write-up: www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/490028
Exploit-DB: ZeroLogon - Netlogon Elevation of Privilege
Metasploit: Netlogon Weak Cryptographic Authentication

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-1472?

windows server 1903: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; windows server 1909: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; windows server 2004: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-1472 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2020-1472 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2020-1472 affect?

CVE-2020-1472 affects windows server 1903, windows server 1909, windows server 2004. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). 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 vul

How urgent is CVE-2020-1472?

Priority 87/100. EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Windows Server vulnerabilities

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References

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