How severe is CVE-2020-16988?

CVE-2020-16988 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.9, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over physical access with high attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-16988 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (49th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-16988?

CVE-2020-16988 affects Microsoft Azure Sphere. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-16988?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-16988 published?

CVE-2020-16988 was published on 2020-11-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-16988

CVE-2020-16988 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Azure Sphere with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.9)
CVSS v2: 7.2
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (49th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Microsoft Azure Sphere
Published: 2020-11-11
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Azure Sphere Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-16988?: Azure Sphere Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
How severe is CVE-2020-16988?: CVE-2020-16988 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.9, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over physical access with high attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-16988 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (49th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-16988?: CVE-2020-16988 affects Microsoft Azure Sphere. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-16988?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-16988 published?: CVE-2020-16988 was published on 2020-11-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16988

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:azure_sphere:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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