CVE-2020-1461 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Microsoft Defender allows file deletion in arbitrary locations, potentially exploited by attackers after system login.

Understanding CVE-2020-1461

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in Microsoft Defender that can lead to an elevation of privilege, enabling attackers to delete files in any location on the system.

What is CVE-2020-1461?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the MpSigStub.exe component of Microsoft Defender, allowing attackers to delete files in arbitrary locations. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires initial login to the system.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1461

The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges and delete files, potentially leading to further system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1461

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Defender allows malicious actors to elevate privileges by deleting files in any location on the system, facilitated by a specific component, MpSigStub.exe.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following systems and versions are affected by CVE-2020-1461:

Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
Microsoft System Center: Endpoint Protection, 2012 R2 Endpoint Protection, 2012 Endpoint Protection
Microsoft Security Essentials
Various versions of Windows Defender, Windows Server, Windows 7, 8.1, RT, and older Windows Server versions

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must first gain access to the system. Once authenticated, they can leverage the vulnerability in Microsoft Defender to perform privilege escalation by deleting files in unauthorized locations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2020-1461 requires immediate actions as well as long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches and updates provided by Microsoft promptly.
Ensure that endpoint protection solutions are updated and configured correctly.
Monitor system logs and network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement a robust security policy with least privilege access controls.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate users on best practices for cybersecurity and the importance of regular software updates.
Consider implementing intrusion detection systems to detect unusual system behavior.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories from Microsoft and apply patches for Microsoft Defender and associated software components to address known vulnerabilities.