CVE-2020-1264 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0986, CVE-2020-1237, CVE-2020-1246, CVE-2020-1262, CVE-2020-1266, CVE-2020-1269, CVE-2020-1273, CVE-2020-1274, CVE-2020-1275, CVE-2020-1276, CVE-2020-1307, CVE-2020-1316.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2020
This elevation of privilege vulnerability resides within the Windows kernel component, specifically manifesting when the kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows malicious actors to escalate their privileges from a standard user account to SYSTEM level access, bypassing normal security boundaries that protect the operating system's core functions. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the kernel's object handling mechanisms, creating potential attack vectors for privilege escalation attacks. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, this vulnerability maps to CWE-119 which describes weaknesses related to improper handling of memory resources, specifically focusing on insufficient protection of memory objects during kernel operations. The Windows kernel's memory management subsystem is responsible for maintaining secure object handling through various mechanisms including memory allocation, deallocation, and access control enforcement. When these mechanisms fail to properly validate or manage kernel objects, attackers can exploit the resulting inconsistencies to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the Windows security model. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can execute arbitrary code with the highest privileges available within the Windows operating system, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires an initial foothold within the target system, often through social engineering or other attack vectors that lead to user-level execution. Once the attacker has achieved user-level access, they can leverage this memory handling flaw to elevate their privileges without requiring additional authentication or authorization. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may have access to potentially malicious content or applications. The attack surface is broad since kernel-level vulnerabilities affect all Windows versions that implement the vulnerable memory management functions, including various editions of Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework places it within the Privilege Escalation technique category, specifically targeting the 'Windows Kernel' sub-technique where adversaries manipulate kernel objects to gain elevated privileges. This approach to privilege escalation is particularly effective because it operates at the lowest level of the operating system, making detection and prevention more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security risk and the underlying memory management flaws within the Windows kernel. Microsoft released security updates that corrected the memory handling inconsistencies in the kernel's object management functions, requiring system administrators to apply these patches promptly across all affected systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes that ensure timely deployment of security updates, particularly those addressing kernel-level vulnerabilities. The recommended approach includes maintaining up-to-date antivirus signatures and endpoint protection solutions that can detect exploitation attempts, though these tools may not prevent the underlying vulnerability itself. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation by limiting what an attacker can access even after achieving privilege escalation. Security monitoring should focus on anomalous kernel-level activity and unexpected privilege elevation events that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Windows and prioritize patching efforts based on risk assessment. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining secure coding practices in kernel development, emphasizing the need for rigorous code reviews and security testing of operating system components. Defense-in-depth strategies should include regular system audits, implementation of privileged access management controls, and continuous monitoring for signs of kernel-level compromise. Given that this vulnerability affects core operating system functionality, organizations must also consider the broader implications for their security posture and potentially implement additional protective measures such as exploit prevention technologies and advanced threat detection systems to compensate for the kernel-level weakness.