CVE-2020-1146 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Microsoft Store Runtime improperly handles memory.</p> <p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application to elevate privileges.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Microsoft Store Runtime handles memory.</p>
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-1146 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Microsoft Store Runtime component, classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition. This vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within the runtime environment that governs applications distributed through the Microsoft Store platform. The flaw manifests when the runtime fails to adequately validate memory access boundaries during application execution, creating potential entry points for malicious code manipulation.
Microsoft Store Runtime serves as the execution environment for applications distributed through the Microsoft Store, providing essential services including application sandboxing, dependency management, and system integration. When an application is installed and executed through this runtime, it operates within a controlled environment that should prevent unauthorized access to system resources. However, the memory handling flaw allows for potential bypass of these security controls, enabling malicious actors to escalate their privileges beyond the normal application boundaries.
The exploitation pathway for this vulnerability requires initial system compromise through execution of malicious code, typically achieved through social engineering, phishing attacks, or other initial access vectors. Once an attacker gains execution capability on the target system, they can deploy a specially crafted application designed to trigger the memory handling flaw within the Microsoft Store Runtime. This malicious application would leverage the improper memory management to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining SYSTEM-level access to the compromised system.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-1146 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental weakness in Microsoft's application runtime security model. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish further footholds within network environments. The vulnerability affects systems running Windows 10 versions prior to the security update, particularly impacting enterprise environments where Microsoft Store applications are commonly deployed. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes privilege escalation through local exploits, and T1059, covering execution through application execution.
Microsoft's security update addresses this vulnerability by implementing improved memory validation mechanisms within the Store Runtime component. The fix corrects how the runtime handles memory allocation, deallocation, and access patterns, ensuring proper bounds checking and preventing unauthorized memory access. This remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the CWE guidelines for preventing buffer overflows and memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this update across all affected systems, particularly those running Windows 10 versions that remain vulnerable to this specific memory handling flaw. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning and patch management processes to ensure complete remediation across enterprise environments.