CVE-2020-1302 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows Installer because of the way Windows Installer handles certain filesystem operations.To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would require unprivileged execution on the victim system, aka 'Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1272, CVE-2020-1277, CVE-2020-1312.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2020
The Windows Installer elevation of privilege vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to escalate their privileges on Windows systems through improper handling of filesystem operations. This vulnerability specifically affects the Windows Installer component which is responsible for installing, modifying, and removing software applications on Windows operating systems. The flaw arises from insufficient validation and sanitization of filesystem operations within the installer framework, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate the installation process and gain elevated system privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Windows Installer's failure to properly validate file paths and permissions during installation operations. When an attacker can influence the filesystem state or manipulate installation files, they can potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This occurs because the installer component does not adequately verify the integrity of file operations or enforce proper access controls during the installation process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only unprivileged execution on the victim system to exploit, making it accessible through various attack vectors including social engineering, malicious software delivery, or compromised applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Windows Installer is frequently used for software deployment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain SYSTEM-level privileges, enabling them to install persistent backdoors, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and establish footholds for further lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-264 indicates it involves improper privilege management, while its exploitation patterns align with ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on local privilege escalation. Organizations running affected Windows versions are particularly vulnerable as the flaw exists at the core installation mechanism of the operating system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, which address the specific filesystem operation handling issues within Windows Installer. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting user privileges, monitoring installation activities, and employing application whitelisting solutions to prevent unauthorized software installations. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly susceptible to exploitation through attack chains that combine multiple techniques, so organizations should focus on comprehensive endpoint protection and privilege management controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems that may be running outdated Windows Installer components that could be vulnerable to similar exploitation techniques.