# CVE-2020-1472: Microsoft Netlogon Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-1472-microsoft-netlogon-privilege-escalation-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-1472 · Severity: critical · CVSS 10 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

A privilege escalation vulnerability, known as Zerologon, exists in the Microsoft Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC) when an attacker establishes a vulnerable secure channel connection to a domain controller. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this to obtain domain administrator access and execute applications on devices within the network.

Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-1472 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-1472 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-1472?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 10, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC).

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-1472?** A patch was published on 2021-Q1: Second phase of Windows updates made available. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-1472 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-1472?** Check whether you run Microsoft Netlogon. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC)

## Timeline

- 2020-09-28: other: Updated guidelines on managing Netlogon secure channel changes published.
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
- 2021-Q1: patched: Second phase of Windows updates made available.