CVE-2020-0610 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Windows Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) when an unauthenticated attacker connects to the target system using RDP and sends specially crafted requests, aka 'Windows Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0609.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-0610 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Windows Remote Desktop Gateway service that operates at the network layer of the Windows operating system. This vulnerability specifically affects the RD Gateway component which serves as a crucial entry point for remote desktop connections in enterprise environments, enabling users to access internal network resources from external locations. The flaw manifests when an unauthenticated attacker establishes an RDP connection to the target system and subsequently transmits specially crafted requests designed to exploit memory corruption within the RD Gateway service. This vulnerability exists at the intersection of network security and application-level memory management, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the RD Gateway service account.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the RD Gateway service's handling of RDP protocol requests. When the service receives malformed or specially crafted RDP packets, it fails to properly validate the incoming data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector requires only network connectivity to the RD Gateway port, typically TCP 3389, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet without requiring prior authentication or credentials.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for extensive network infiltration and lateral movement. Organizations that rely on RD Gateway for remote access are particularly vulnerable since this flaw allows attackers to bypass traditional authentication mechanisms and directly compromise the gateway service itself. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and potentially gain access to sensitive internal systems that would otherwise be protected by network segmentation. This represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK framework perspective, specifically mapping to techniques such as T1021.001 for remote services and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can execute commands and scripts directly on the compromised system. The vulnerability's ability to operate without authentication makes it particularly attractive to automated attack tools and makes it difficult to detect through traditional monitoring approaches.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches released in the June 2020 security updates, which address the memory corruption issues within the RD Gateway service. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the RD Gateway service, limiting connections to only trusted IP addresses and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling RD Gateway if it is not essential for business operations, or implementing additional security layers such as VPN gateways or jump servers to provide additional protection. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates continuous monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns and anomalous behavior on the RD Gateway service, as well as implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify the specific packet patterns associated with this exploit. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the implemented mitigations are effective and that no other vulnerabilities exist within the RD Gateway configuration or associated services.