Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 TCP/IP Stack Remote Code Execution

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.2$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component TCPIP Stack. Executing a manipulation can lead to Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2020-16898. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. It is best practice to apply a patch to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 (Operating System) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects some unknown functionality of the component TCPIP Stack. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a remote code execution vulnerability. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows TCP/IP stack improperly handles ICMPv6 Router Advertisement packets. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the ability to execute code on the target server or client.</p> <p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would have to send specially crafted ICMPv6 Router Advertisement packets to a remote Windows computer.</p> <p>The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows TCP/IP stack handles ICMPv6 Router Advertisement packets.</p>

The weakness was presented 10/13/2020 as confirmed security guidance (Website). The advisory is available at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2020-16898. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/24/2026). The advisory points out:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows TCP/IP stack improperly handles ICMPv6 Router Advertisement packets. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the ability to execute code on the target server or client. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would have to send specially crafted ICMPv6 Router Advertisement packets to a remote Windows computer. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows TCP/IP stack handles ICMPv6 Router Advertisement packets.

It is declared as proof-of-concept.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 9.8
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔍

NVD Base Score: 8.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 8.8
CNA Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Remote Code Execution
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/04/2020 🔍
10/13/2020 +70 days 🔍
10/13/2020 +0 days 🔍
10/14/2020 +0 days 🔍
02/24/2026 +1959 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2020-16898 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2020-16898
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-162598
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215

Entryinfo

Created: 10/14/2020 11:00
Updated: 02/24/2026 20:13
Changes: 10/14/2020 11:00 (31), 10/14/2020 11:04 (23), 11/18/2020 07:32 (5), 11/19/2020 10:05 (2), 11/19/2020 10:08 (14), 02/24/2026 20:13 (30)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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