Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 Windows Installer privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Microsoft Windows. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Windows Installer. Executing a manipulation can lead to privileges management. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2020-0683. The attack may be performed from remote. In addition, an exploit is available. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown part of the component Windows Installer. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links, aka 'Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0686.

The weakness was presented 02/11/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated in cooperation with the vendor. This vulnerability was named CVE-2020-0683. The attack can be initiated remotely. A single authentication is necessary for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could bypass access restrictions to add or remove files.

A public exploit has been developed by Christian Danieli (padovah4ck) in C++ and been published immediately after the advisory. It is possible to download the exploit at github.com. It is declared as attacked. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. This issue was added on 11/03/2021 to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a due date of 05/03/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Exploit-DB (48079). See VDB-149912, VDB-149910, VDB-149909 and VDB-149907 for similar entries. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Windows

Version

• 7 SP1
• 8.1
• 10
• 10 1607
• 10 1709
• 10 1803
• 10 1809
• 10 1903
• 10 1909
• RT 8.1
• Server 1803
• Server 1903
• Server 1909
• Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Server 2008 SP2
• Server 2012
• Server 2016
• Server 2019

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/
• Product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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