Microsoft Windows up to 10 2004 Setup access control

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Microsoft Windows 10 1803/10 1809/10 1903/10 1909/10 2004. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Setup. Executing a manipulation can lead to access control. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2020-16908. The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows 10 1803/10 1809/10 1903/10 1909/10 2004 (Operating System). It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects an unknown part of the component Setup. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-284. The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows Setup in the way it handles directories.</p> <p>A locally authenticated attacker could run arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. After successfully exploiting the vulnerability, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring Windows Setup properly handles directories.</p>

The weakness was disclosed 10/13/2020 as confirmed security guidance (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2020-16908. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 02/24/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows Setup in the way it handles directories. A locally authenticated attacker could run arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. After successfully exploiting the vulnerability, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring Windows Setup properly handles directories.

It is declared as proof-of-concept.

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

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Windows

Version

• 10 1803
• 10 1809
• 10 1903
• 10 1909
• 10 2004

License

• commercial

Website

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

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