CVE-2020-0749 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-2020-0742, CVE-2020-0743, CVE-2020-0750.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-0749 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Microsoft's Connected Devices Platform Service, which operates as a core component of the Windows operating system. This service facilitates communication between local devices and cloud-based services, enabling seamless connectivity for IoT devices, mobile phones, and other connected hardware. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects within the service's execution context, 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 due to its role in managing device connections and synchronization processes, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain deeper system control.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in how the service processes and manages memory objects during routine operations. Specifically, the vulnerability occurs when the service handles certain object references in memory without proper validation or sanitization procedures. This memory handling issue allows an attacker to manipulate the service's execution flow by crafting malicious input that triggers buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. The flaw is classified as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited through carefully constructed inputs passed to the Connected Devices Platform Service. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow, as it involves improper memory management leading to privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within a service that runs with high privileges and has direct access to system resources, making the exploitation impact significantly more severe.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0749 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system functions and data. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges, potentially enabling them to install malicious software, modify system configurations, access encrypted data, or establish persistent backdoors. The Connected Devices Platform Service's role in device synchronization means that an attacker could potentially compromise not only the local machine but also connected devices within the network. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to gain higher-level permissions. The attack surface is particularly broad since the service is enabled by default on Windows systems and frequently interacts with various network protocols and device communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0749 should focus on both immediate patch deployment and operational security improvements. Microsoft released security updates in April 2020 that addressed this vulnerability through proper memory handling procedures and input validation. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant security patches immediately, as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild before the patch release. Beyond patching, system administrators should implement additional security controls such as restricting access to the Connected Devices Platform Service through group policy configurations, disabling unnecessary device connectivity features, and monitoring for unusual service behavior. Network segmentation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while behavioral monitoring solutions can detect anomalous patterns in service execution that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementations and regular security assessments of Windows services that operate with elevated privileges, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.