Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 Kernel memory corruption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Kernel. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2020-16890. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. It is best practice to apply a patch to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 (Operating System). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown function of the component Kernel. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.</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 to take control of an affected system.</p> <p>The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel handles objects in memory.</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 handled as CVE-2020-16890. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched 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 02/24/2026). The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application to take control of an affected system. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel handles objects in memory.

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 1709
• 10 1803
• 10 1809
• 10 1903
• 10 1909
• 10 2004
• Server 1903
• Server 1909
• Server 2004
• Server 2019

License

• commercial

Website

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

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