CVE-2020-1466 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-1466, a denial of service vulnerability in Windows Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) allowing attackers to disrupt services on affected Windows Server versions. Find details and mitigation procedures.
On August 11, 2020, Microsoft disclosed a high-severity vulnerability named CVE-2020-1466 affecting Windows Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway). This vulnerability allows for a denial of service attack against the RD Gateway service on Windows Servers.
Understanding CVE-2020-1466
What is CVE-2020-1466?
A denial of service vulnerability in Windows Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) enables an attacker to disrupt the service by sending specially crafted requests, causing the target system to stop responding.
The Impact of CVE-2020-1466
Exploiting this vulnerability allows an attacker to halt the RD Gateway service on a targeted system, potentially disrupting remote desktop services and causing operational issues.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-1466
Vulnerability Description
- The vulnerability arises when an attacker establishes an RDP connection to the target system using specially crafted requests.
- Attackers need to utilize a custom application against an RD Gateway server to exploit this weakness.
- The update addresses this issue by enhancing how RD Gateway handles connection requests.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Windows Server 2019, including Server Core installation
- Windows Server 2016, including Server Core installation
- Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, including Server Core installations
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by creating malicious RDP requests to the RD Gateway service, forcing it to stop responding and causing a denial of service condition.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the provided security update from Microsoft to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Ensure firewall rules restrict access to vulnerable RD Gateway services.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch systems to protect against known vulnerabilities.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious RDP activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.
Patching and Updates
- Microsoft has released a security update to address CVE-2020-1466. Organizations are advised to apply this update promptly to secure their systems.