Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 Registry privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Windows. Impacted is an unknown function of the component Registry. The manipulation results in privileges management. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2020-1377. The attack is only possible with local access. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System). Affected is an unknown function of the component Registry. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Kernel API improperly handles registry objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain elevated privileges on a targeted system. A locally authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability by running a specially crafted application. The security update addresses the vulnerability by helping to ensure that the Windows Kernel API properly handles objects in memory.

The weakness was released 08/11/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated with the vendor. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2020-1377. The attack needs to be approached locally. The successful exploitation requires a authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 02/23/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Kernel API improperly handles registry objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain elevated privileges on a targeted system.

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

Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-159519, VDB-159518, VDB-159517 and VDB-159515. 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
• 10 2004
• RT 8.1
• Server 1903
• Server 1909
• Server 2004
• Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Server 2008 SP2
• Server 2012
• Server 2012 R2
• 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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