Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 COM Server access control

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Microsoft Windows. Impacted is an unknown function of the component COM Server. The manipulation results in access control. This vulnerability was named CVE-2020-16935. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System). It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown functionality of the component COM Server. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-284. The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles COM object creation. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code with elevated privileges.</p> <p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system.</p> <p>The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows COM Server creates COM objects.</p>

The weakness was presented 10/13/2020 as confirmed security guidance (Website). The advisory is available at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2020-16935. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/25/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1068 by the MITRE ATT&CK project. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles COM object creation. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code with elevated privileges. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows COM Server creates COM objects.

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.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit 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
• 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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If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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