Microsoft Windows up to RT 8.1 Backup Engine privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Microsoft Windows up to RT 8.1. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component Backup Engine. The manipulation leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2020-1544. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. Applying a patch is the recommended action to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Windows up to RT 8.1 (Operating System). This issue affects some unknown functionality of the component Backup Engine. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Backup Engine improperly handles memory. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application to elevate privileges. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows Backup Engine handles memory.

The weakness was released 08/11/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated with Microsoft. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2020-1544. The attack may be initiated remotely. A simple authentication is required for exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/24/2026). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Backup Engine improperly handles memory.

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-159585, VDB-159584, VDB-159583 and VDB-159582. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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

License

• commercial

Website

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

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Entryinfo

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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