CVE-2020-0803 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Network Connections Service handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows Network Connections Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0778, CVE-2020-0802, CVE-2020-0804, CVE-2020-0845.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0803 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Windows Network Connections Service that stems from improper handling of memory objects during network connection operations. This vulnerability specifically affects the Windows operating system's network management infrastructure, where the service responsible for managing network connections fails to properly validate or sanitize memory objects during processing. The flaw allows malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access, creating a severe security risk for affected systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper memory management practices within the Windows Network Connections Service component. When the service processes network connection objects, it fails to adequately validate the memory structures it manipulates, potentially allowing attackers to craft specially crafted network connection requests that trigger memory corruption or manipulation. This memory handling issue creates an opportunity for privilege escalation attacks that exploit the service's insufficient input validation and memory management controls. The vulnerability specifically impacts the way the service handles objects in memory during network connection establishment and maintenance operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have the ability to initiate network connections.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0803 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control capabilities that can be leveraged for persistent access, data exfiltration, and further exploitation. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain SYSTEM-level privileges that enable them to bypass all standard Windows security controls, install malicious software, modify system files, and access all user data without detection. This vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where these operating systems are prevalent. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability can be exploited through various network connection activities, including wireless network management, VPN connections, and standard network interface operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security updates, disabling unnecessary network connection services where possible, and implementing network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and is related to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through service exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual network connection activities and privilege escalation attempts, as well as conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems that may be affected by this and similar memory handling vulnerabilities. The threat landscape for this vulnerability includes advanced persistent threat groups that actively seek out such privilege escalation opportunities in enterprise environments.