CVE-2020-1404 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Runtime improperly handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows Runtime Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1249, CVE-2020-1353, CVE-2020-1370, CVE-2020-1399, CVE-2020-1413, CVE-2020-1414, CVE-2020-1415, CVE-2020-1422.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2020
The Windows Runtime elevation of privilege vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft's operating system architecture that allows attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the Windows Runtime component fails to properly handle objects in memory, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors. The issue affects multiple versions of Windows including Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019, making it a widespread concern across enterprise environments. According to CWE-264, this vulnerability falls under the category of permissions, privileges, and access control flaws, where improper handling of memory objects creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where the runtime components manage memory allocation and object lifecycle, providing attackers with direct pathways to gain elevated system privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of memory objects within the Windows Runtime environment, where the system fails to validate or properly sanitize object references during memory operations. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the improper memory handling by creating or manipulating objects in ways that bypass normal privilege checks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Windows Runtime subsystem that governs how objects are allocated, accessed, and deallocated in memory space. This flaw creates a condition where an unprivileged user process can potentially manipulate memory objects to gain access to system-level resources and execute code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under ATT&CK technique T1068, which specifically addresses local privilege escalation through the exploitation of system-level vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Organizations running affected Windows versions face significant risk of data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and persistent access to critical infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal user interaction and can be automated through various attack vectors including malicious software delivery or compromised applications. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat due to its potential for widespread impact across multiple Windows environments. The vulnerability's relationship to other CVEs such as CVE-2020-1249 through CVE-2020-1422 demonstrates a pattern of memory handling flaws within the Windows Runtime subsystem, indicating that similar vulnerabilities may exist within the broader Windows architecture. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure timely patch deployment across all affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of Microsoft security updates and patches that address the specific memory handling flaws within the Windows Runtime. System administrators should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all Windows systems receive the necessary security updates as quickly as possible. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through zero-day attacks, emphasizing the importance of maintaining up-to-date security solutions and threat intelligence feeds. Network segmentation and privilege minimization strategies can help reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities within the Windows ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing advanced threat protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities in runtime environments.