CVE-2020-0742 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Connected Devices Platform Service handles objects in memory, aka 'Connected Devices Platform Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0740, CVE-2020-0741, CVE-2020-0743, CVE-2020-0749, CVE-2020-0750.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-0742 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Microsoft's Connected Devices Platform Service, which operates as a core component of Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. This service facilitates communication between local devices and cloud-based services, enabling features such as device discovery, pairing, and synchronization across various platforms. The vulnerability specifically manifests in how the service processes memory objects, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The Connected Devices Platform Service runs with elevated privileges by design to enable seamless device integration, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it directly targets the service's memory handling mechanisms.
The technical flaw stems from improper validation and handling of memory objects within the Connected Devices Platform Service implementation. When the service processes certain data structures or objects in memory, it fails to properly validate input parameters or enforce appropriate access controls, leading to potential memory corruption or manipulation opportunities. This memory handling weakness allows an attacker to craft malicious inputs that can be processed by the service, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution within the context of the elevated service. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions, both of which are common attack vectors in privilege escalation scenarios. The service's operation model creates a perfect storm where legitimate system-level processes interact with potentially untrusted data, making the memory handling implementation critical to overall system security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within Windows environments. Once exploited, the attacker gains system-level privileges that enable complete control over the affected system, including the ability to install malicious software, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability affects all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 where the Connected Devices Platform Service is installed, making it particularly widespread. The attack surface is further expanded because the service runs continuously and handles various types of device communication protocols, increasing the likelihood of exploitation through different attack vectors. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and potentially T1059, 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as the elevated privileges enable further malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0742 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the vulnerability was addressed in the May 2020 security releases. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all systems receive the necessary updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit device communication, disabling unnecessary Connected Devices Platform features through group policy configurations, and monitoring system logs for unusual service behavior or memory access patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized binaries that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in system-level services and highlights the risks associated with elevated privilege services that handle untrusted input data, making it a critical example of why memory safety and proper input validation are essential components of secure system design.