CVE-2020-1540 : What You Need to Know

Windows Backup Engine Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published by Microsoft on August 11, 2020. The vulnerability affects various versions of Windows operating systems.

Understanding CVE-2020-1540

This CVE identifies an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Backup Engine.

What is CVE-2020-1540?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability occurs due to the Windows Backup Engine mishandling memory, allowing attackers to execute specially crafted applications to gain elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1540

The vulnerability has a high base severity rating of 7.8 according to the CVSS metric, indicating a significant threat to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1540

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The Windows Backup Engine vulnerability enables attackers to exploit memory handling issues to elevate privileges on compromised systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and various versions including Service Packs are impacted.
Platforms affected include 32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64-based systems.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers first need execution capabilities on the target system.
By running a specially crafted application, they can exploit the vulnerability to elevate privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Proactive measures can help prevent exploitation and safeguard systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Microsoft to address the vulnerability promptly.
Implement the Principle of Least Privilege (POLP) to limit user permissions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update systems with the latest security patches to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training to educate users on identifying and responding to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released a security update to correct the memory handling issue in the Windows Backup Engine.