CVE-2020-0796 — Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems

What is CVE-2020-0796?

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Microsoft Server Message Block 3.1.1 (SMBv3) protocol handles certain requests, aka 'Windows SMBv3 Client/Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.

The record classifies CVE-2020-0796 under weakness class CWE-119. Its CVSS v3 base vector states that the flaw is reachable remotely over the network, needs no prior authentication, needs no user interaction, and has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability. 8 affected-product entries are recorded, across 1 vendor, listed below. The identifier was first published 2425 days ago.

Severity and exploitation probability

CVSS v3.1 base score: 10 — CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (FIRST): 99.8% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs
CISA KEV: Listed since 2022-02-10, federal remediation deadline 2022-08-10 — used in known ransomware campaigns
Threadlinqs priority: 10/10 — CISA lists it as used in ransomware, which Threadlinqs scores at the maximum
Published: 2020-03-12, last modified 2026-10-01

Is CVE-2020-0796 being exploited?

CISA added CVE-2020-0796 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-02-10, which means the agency holds evidence of exploitation in the wild; US federal civilian agencies had to remediate it by 2022-08-10 under BOD 22-01. CISA flags the vulnerability as one used in known ransomware campaigns. Weaponised exploit code for CVE-2020-0796 is publicly available. 11 public proof-of-concept repositories are tracked for this identifier. A ProjectDiscovery Nuclei detection template exists (network/cves/2020/CVE-2020-0796.yaml). It currently carries a trending score of 55 in the Threadlinqs vulnerability feed.

danigargu/CVE-2020-0796 (github)
ly4k/SMBGhost (github)
jamf/CVE-2020-0796-RCE-POC (github)
Barriuso/SMBGhost_AutomateExploitation (github)
eerykitty/CVE-2020-0796-PoC (github)
jamf/CVE-2020-0796-LPE-POC (github)
Rvn0xsy/CVE_2020_0796_CNA (github)
rsmudge/CVE-2020-0796-BOF (github)

Affected products and versions

Microsoft: Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems, Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems, Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems, Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation), Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems, Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems, Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems, Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)

How to fix CVE-2020-0796

The record marks a vendor fix as available for CVE-2020-0796. Patch reference: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0796. Vendor advisory: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0796. Because CVE-2020-0796 is KEV-listed, US federal civilian agencies were required to apply the vendor fix, or stop using the product, by 2022-08-10. Apply the vendor fix referenced above to every affected product listed in this record, then confirm the running version against the vendor advisory.

Threat activity tracking CVE-2020-0796

2 tracked threats in the Threadlinqs corpus reference CVE-2020-0796, either in the campaign’s CVE list or as an indicator on the campaign record.

Operation Escaneo: MexicanMafia (PanchoVilla) Intrusion Campaign Against Mexican Government Agencies and Latin American Financial Institutions — HIGH · 2026-10-23
Proofpoint AI Era Ransomware Report: 37% of Paying Victims Face Repeat Extortion Demands — MEDIUM · 2026-07-22

Sources

Enriched from CVE.org, NVD, FIRST EPSS, CISA KEV, GitHub Security Advisories, public proof-of-concept repositories, ProjectDiscovery Nuclei. Last verified by Threadlinqs on 2026-10-10. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

Other references

Showing 5 of 7 recorded references.

CVE-2020-0796 — Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems