# CVE-2020-0733: Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

CVE-2020-0733 is fixed in 2 products on 1 platform, first by KB891716, released January 10, 2023. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-0733
- Priority: High
- CVSS: n/a (Important)
- EPSS: 0.0082
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Vendor exploitability assessment: Exploitation Less Likely
- Published: Feb 11, 2020
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-0733

## Description

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) improperly handles junctions.</p> <p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application to elevate privileges.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) handles junctions.</p>

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 32-bit |  | [KB891716](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb891716.md) | Jan 10, 2023 |
| Microsoft | Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 64-bit |  | [KB891716](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb891716.md) | Jan 10, 2023 |

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Data as of 2026-11-07T18:46:35Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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