Vulnerability report

Exploited in the wild Confirmed confidence In CISA KEV

CVE-2020-0796

Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems Remote Code Execution

Microsoft / Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems · unspecified

Watch CVE-2020-0796 Browse KEV feed
Severity
CVSS 10.0 · Critical
Confidence
Confirmed
Exploit status
Exploited in the wild
EPSS
99.8%
First observed
—
Last observed
—

Decision summary

What security teams need to know first

Direct answers before the deeper technical record.

What it is

CVE-2020-0796 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems and 9 other products. A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Microsoft Server...

Is it exploited?

Yes. Previdian tracks this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is confirmed. Listed in CISA KEV. Also confirmed by third-party sources.

Who is affected?

Microsoft / Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems unspecified.

What should we do?

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

Overview

Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems Remote Code Execution

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'.

Microsoft Affected
Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems
unspecified
Microsoft Affected
Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)
unspecified
Published
12 Mar 2020
Exploitation Reported
10 Feb 2022
Attack vector
Remote
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None

Tags

cisa ransomware metasploit windows microsoft nuclei_scanner malware

CVE References

Exploitation evidence

Why Previdian marks this CVE as exploited

Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.

Exploited in the wild

CISA

Recorded 10 Feb 2022

A trusted third party reported exploitation.

Used in malware

CISA

Recorded 10 Feb 2022

Malware families have been linked to exploitation of this CVE.

Proof of concept available

GitHub

Recorded 10 Mar 2020

Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.

Known exploited vulnerability sources

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the Previdian Pro API.

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Source Added
CISA First 2022-02-10 00:00 UTC
CVE 2026-08-12 04:21 UTC

Detection

Operational artifacts and observed signals

Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.

Observed signals

Request targets
User-Agents
Callback hosts
0
0
0

Request targets and User-Agents available in Pro. Callback host details available in Enterprise.

Virtual patch status

No Previdian virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.

Learn about virtual patches →

Scanner Artifacts

Scanner and exploit-framework references linked to this CVE.

Scanner Reference Detected
Nuclei https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/network/cves/2020/CVE-2020-0796.yaml 01 Jun 2026
Metasploit https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/smb/cve_2020_0796_smbghost.rb 29 Apr 2025

Risk and context

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

CVSS v3.1

10.0 Critical

Potential damage if exploited. Separate from whether attackers are using it.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

99.8%

Estimated chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Previdian's warning comes from evidence, not this score.

Weaknesses

Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer CWE-119

Recent mention · RecordedFuture

August 2026 CVE Landscape

In August 2026, Insikt Group® identified 73 high-impact vulnerabilities that should be prioritized for remediation, 43 of which had a Very Critical Recorded Future Risk Score. This represents a 14% decrease from last month.

Read full advisory

All CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 10.0 Critical

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v2.0 7.5 High

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

Microsoft SMBv3 - Remote Code Execution

nuclei · Created Unknown

cve_2020_0796_smbghost

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2020-0796

cve_2020_0796_smbghost

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2020-0796

Timeline

From disclosure to observed exploitation

  1. 04:21 UTC

    KEV confirmed by CVE

    Exploitation attested by an external source

  2. 15:34 UTC

    Nuclei template available

    Scanner coverage available

  3. 10:59 UTC

    Metasploit module available

    Exploit module available

  4. 15:02 UTC

    Public PoC available

    Public proof-of-concept code published

  5. 00:00 UTC

    Added to CISA KEV

    Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

  6. 00:00 UTC

    First public exploitation report

    Exploit observed in malware

  7. 15:48 UTC

    CVE published

    Vulnerability disclosed publicly

  8. 00:00 UTC

    CVE ID reserved

    Identifier reserved by the CNA

Pro API

Automate this intelligence

Confidence, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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  • Evidence confidence and provenance
  • First-party sensor telemetry
  • PoC and scanner references
  • Affected versions and enrichment
  • Automation-ready JSON delivery

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2020-0796

Free JSON includes basic KEV fields 
{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2020-0796",
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 10.0,
  "cvss_estimated": false,
  "epss_score": 0.9981,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}