CVE-2020-1396 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Windows ALPC Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2020-1396

An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows ALPC

What is CVE-2020-1396?

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Windows that mishandles Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC) requests, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1396

Successful exploitation could lead to an attacker running malicious code with system permissions.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1396

Vulnerability details and affected systems

Vulnerability Description

Windows mishandles ALPC calls, enabling attackers to elevate privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Various versions of Windows, including 10, 8.1, and their server equivalents, are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this flaw by sending crafted ALPC requests to the vulnerable system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2020-1396

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates and patches provided by Microsoft promptly.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict system access.
Monitor and restrict the usage of ALPC interfaces where applicable.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to address known vulnerabilities.
Employ network segmentation and access controls to minimize attack surfaces.
Conduct security training for users on identifying and avoiding potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running affected Windows versions are updated with the latest security patches.