CVE-2020-0682 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Function Discovery Service handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows Function Discovery Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0679, CVE-2020-0680.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2024
The Windows Function Discovery Service represents a critical component within Microsoft Windows operating systems that facilitates the discovery and enumeration of network devices and services. This service operates with elevated privileges to access system resources and network interfaces, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability resides in how the service processes memory objects, specifically failing to properly validate input data structures during the discovery process. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that triggers improper memory handling, leading to unauthorized privilege elevation.
This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory corruption issues, which aligns with CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write operations. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate memory objects through the Function Discovery Service interface, potentially executing arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The service typically runs with high integrity levels, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it could enable full system compromise without requiring user interaction or authentication. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, where the service remains active and accessible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the Windows environment. Once exploited, the attacker gains the ability to modify system files, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially establish backdoors for continued access. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted network requests or discovery packets to the Function Discovery Service, which then processes these malformed inputs in an unsafe manner. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level and can be exploited remotely, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent Windows updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Function Discovery Service ports and consider disabling the service entirely if not required for business operations. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual network traffic patterns targeting discovery services and anomalous privilege escalation events. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging Windows management instrumentation and service manipulation tactics. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles and maintaining up-to-date security patches remains essential for protecting against this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.