CVE-2020-1369 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows WalletService handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows WalletService Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1344, CVE-2020-1362.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2020
The Windows WalletService elevation of privilege vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft's Windows operating system that allows attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level. This vulnerability specifically targets the WalletService component which manages digital wallets and credential storage within the Windows environment. The flaw exists in how the service handles memory objects, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit improper memory management practices and gain unauthorized administrative access to affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects within the WalletService process. When the service processes certain wallet-related operations, it fails to properly validate or sanitize memory allocations and object references, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can influence the service's memory behavior. This memory handling issue enables an attacker to manipulate the service's execution flow and potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory safety issues that are commonly classified as CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow or similar memory corruption weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to gain system-level privileges without requiring physical access or prior authentication. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious applications, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics that trick users into performing actions that trigger the vulnerable code path. Once successfully exploited, the attacker gains complete control over the affected system, enabling them to install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, which address the memory handling flaws in the WalletService component. Organizations should implement the latest Windows updates through their standard patch management procedures, as Microsoft released security bulletins specifically addressing this CVE. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting user privileges, enabling application whitelisting, and monitoring for suspicious WalletService activity. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation and T1059 for execution through Windows services, making it particularly concerning for security teams implementing threat detection and response measures. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices can help reduce the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should include verification that the patch has been properly applied and that no residual vulnerabilities remain in the system configuration.