CVE-2020-0666 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Search Indexer handles objects in memory, aka 'Windows Search Indexer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.

Understanding CVE-2020-0666

This CVE concerns a security issue in Microsoft Windows Search Indexer that could allow an attacker to obtain elevated privileges.

What is CVE-2020-0666?

It is an elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Windows Search Indexer in Microsoft Windows systems.

The Impact of CVE-2020-0666

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected Windows systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-0666

The technical details related to the vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Search Indexer are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves the mishandling of objects in memory by the Windows Search Indexer.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following Microsoft Windows and Windows Server versions are impacted:

Windows 7, 8.1, 10 (multiple versions)
Windows Server versions 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019
Windows 10 Version 1903, 1909 and corresponding Server versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges on the affected Windows systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-0666, users and administrators can take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security updates provided by Microsoft.
Regularly monitor Microsoft security advisories for patches and guidance.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.

Long-Term Security Practices

Employ strong network segmentation and access controls.
Keep software and systems up to date with the latest patches.

Patching and Updates

It is recommended to install the security patches released by Microsoft to mitigate the vulnerability in Windows Search Indexer.