CVE-2020-1373 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Network Connections Service handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows Network Connections Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1390, CVE-2020-1427, CVE-2020-1428, CVE-2020-1438.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-1373 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Windows Network Connections Service component. This service is responsible for managing network connections and connectivity states on Windows operating systems, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The vulnerability specifically manifests in how the service handles objects stored in memory, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate these objects and gain unauthorized administrative privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory management practices within the Network Connections Service implementation. When the service processes network connection objects, it fails to properly validate or sanitize memory references, allowing attackers to potentially overwrite or manipulate memory locations that should remain protected. This memory handling flaw creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks, where an unprivileged user could exploit the service to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically relates to improper handling of memory objects in the Windows kernel components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Windows systems are prevalent. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to networked systems, potentially compromising entire network infrastructures. The attack vector typically involves exploiting the service through crafted network connection requests or by manipulating existing network connections to trigger the memory corruption. Once successfully exploited, the attacker gains full system privileges, enabling them to install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish backdoors. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1547, covering 'Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder' for maintaining persistence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-1373 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Microsoft, as the vulnerability was addressed through the July 2020 security updates. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running the Network Connections Service, monitor for unusual network connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintain robust endpoint detection and response capabilities. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on Windows services and their memory management practices, while ensuring that users operate with minimal privileges and that administrative accounts are protected through multi-factor authentication and strict access controls. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining secure coding practices and regular security updates in operating system components that handle sensitive system functions.