---
id: CVE-2020-1142
title: >-
  An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows
  Graphics Device Interface (GDI) handles objects in memory
summary: >-
  An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows
  Graphics Device Interface (GDI) handles objects in memory. An attacker who
  successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel
  mode. An a…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
vendor: microsoft
product: windows_10
affected:
  - windows_10 = 1709
  - windows_10 = 1803
  - windows_10 = 1809
  - windows_10 = 1903
  - windows_10 = 1909
  - windows_server_2016 = 1803
  - windows_server_2016 = 1903
  - windows_server_2016 = 1909
  - windows_server_2019
published: '2020-05-21'
updated: '2026-08-19'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1142'
references:
  - url: 'https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1142'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1142
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00944
epssPercentile: 0.59377
ingestedAt: '2026-08-19T17:42:39.189Z'
---

## Overview

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI) handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system.
The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how GDI handles objects in memory and by preventing instances of unintended user-mode privilege elevation.

## Affected

- `windows_10 = 1709`
- `windows_10 = 1803`
- `windows_10 = 1809`
- `windows_10 = 1903`
- `windows_10 = 1909`
- `windows_server_2016 = 1803`
- `windows_server_2016 = 1903`
- `windows_server_2016 = 1909`
- `windows_server_2019`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.