CVE-2020-0716 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when the win32k component improperly provides kernel information, aka 'Win32k Information Disclosure Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0717.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2024
The win32k information disclosure vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within the Windows operating system's kernel-mode components that exposes sensitive system information to unauthorized users. This vulnerability affects the win32k.sys kernel driver which handles user-mode to kernel-mode transitions and manages graphics-related functionality in the windows operating system. The flaw manifests when the win32k component fails to properly sanitize kernel memory contents before exposing them to user-mode applications, creating a pathway for information leakage that could be exploited by malicious actors.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically aligns with CWE-125 "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-225 "General Information Exposure" within the CWE taxonomy. The technical implementation involves improper validation of kernel memory access within the win32k.sys driver where certain API calls fail to properly restrict access to kernel addresses and memory structures. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract kernel pointers, memory addresses, and other sensitive information that could be used for further exploitation techniques such as privilege escalation or bypassing security mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with critical insights into the kernel memory layout and system architecture. When exploited, this vulnerability enables adversaries to gain knowledge about kernel memory regions, process addresses, and security features that would normally be protected from user-mode access. This information can be instrumental in crafting more sophisticated attacks that target specific kernel components or exploit other vulnerabilities within the same subsystem. The vulnerability affects multiple windows versions including windows 10, windows server 2016, and windows server 2019, making it a widespread concern across enterprise environments.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. The information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance and gather intelligence about target systems before launching more targeted attacks. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability could be combined with other exploits to achieve complete system compromise, as the leaked kernel information provides crucial details about system internals that would otherwise be protected. Organizations implementing defensive measures should focus on monitoring for unusual memory access patterns and implementing proper kernel-mode access controls to prevent unauthorized information extraction.
The recommended mitigation strategies include applying the latest microsoft security patches that address the win32k information disclosure vulnerability, implementing kernel-mode exploit protection mechanisms, and deploying advanced threat detection systems that can monitor for suspicious kernel memory access patterns. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls should also be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing exploit prevention technologies such as control flow integrity and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems that may be vulnerable to this and related information disclosure threats within the windows operating system ecosystem.