CVE-2020-1186 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows State Repository Service improperly handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows State Repository Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1124, CVE-2020-1131, CVE-2020-1134, CVE-2020-1144, CVE-2020-1184, CVE-2020-1185, CVE-2020-1187, CVE-2020-1188, CVE-2020-1189, CVE-2020-1190, CVE-2020-1191.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-1186 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Windows State Repository Service component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This service is responsible for managing and maintaining the state information of various Windows components, particularly those related to the Windows Store and application deployment mechanisms. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of objects in memory, which creates a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access. The Windows State Repository Service operates with elevated privileges to perform its core functions, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain deeper system control.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the service's memory management practices and object handling mechanisms within the Windows operating system. When the State Repository Service processes certain objects in memory, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the data structures being manipulated. This memory handling flaw can be exploited through carefully crafted inputs or by manipulating the service's operational environment to trigger a condition where malicious code can execute with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects how the service manages memory objects during state repository operations, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to privilege escalation scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations running affected Windows systems. An unauthenticated attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain SYSTEM-level access to the target system, enabling them to perform actions such as installing malicious software, modifying system files, accessing sensitive data, and creating persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the Windows State Repository Service is a core system component that runs with elevated privileges and is accessible through normal system operations. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely or locally, depending on the specific attack vector, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where Windows systems are exposed to external networks. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the use of local privilege escalation techniques through system service manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches released in the June 2020 security bulletin. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as disabling unnecessary services, restricting access to the State Repository Service, and monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices and input validation in system services that operate with elevated privileges. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact if an attacker does manage to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any custom applications or services that might interact with the State Repository Service and ensure they are properly hardened against similar memory-based exploitation techniques. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for robust security practices in system service design and implementation, particularly when dealing with components that handle sensitive state information and operate with elevated privileges.