CVE-2020-1378 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2020-1378 article provides an overview of the Windows Registry Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability affecting various Microsoft Windows versions.

Understanding CVE-2020-1378

The vulnerability was published on August 11, 2020, and has a high CVSS base severity score of 7.5.

What is CVE-2020-1378?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability is present in the Windows Kernel API due to improper handling of registry objects in memory. Successful exploitation could lead to gaining elevated privileges on a targeted system.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1378

Local authenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability by executing a specially crafted application.
The security update aims to ensure proper handling of objects in memory by the Windows Kernel API.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1378

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The Windows Kernel API's mishandling of registry objects in memory results in the elevation of privilege vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10, versions 1803, 1809, 1909, 2004
Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core), Windows Server version 1909, Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core)
And several other Windows versions across different systems.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by running a specially crafted application to gain elevated privileges on the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2020-1378.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Microsoft promptly.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that might indicate an exploit.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update systems with the latest security patches.
Employ the principle of least privilege to restrict access based on job roles.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are patched with the latest updates to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.