Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 Backup Service access control

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Microsoft Windows. The affected element is an unknown function of the component Backup Service. Such manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2020-16973. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown code block of the component Backup Service. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-284. The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Backup Service improperly handles file operations.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows Backup Service handles file operations.</p>

The weakness was presented 10/13/2020 as confirmed security guidance (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2020-16973. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. 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 02/25/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Backup Service improperly handles file operations. 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 Service handles file operations.

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.

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Windows

Version

• 7 SP1
• 10
• 10 1607
• 10 1709
• 10 1803
• 10 1809
• 10 1903
• 10 1909
• 10 2004
• Server 1903
• Server 1909
• Server 2004
• Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Server 2008 SP2
• Server 2016
• Server 2019

License

• commercial

Website

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

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