CVE-2020-1565 : What You Need to Know

Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published by Microsoft on August 11, 2020.

Understanding CVE-2020-1565

This CVE describes an elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows systems.

What is CVE-2020-1565?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the "Public Account Pictures" folder improperly handles junctions. This flaw could be exploited by an attacker who gains execution on the victim system to run a specially crafted application and elevate privileges. The security update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how Windows handles junctions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1565

Type: Elevation of Privilege
Impact: High (CVSS Base Score 7.5)
Vector String: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1565

This section provides technical details of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of junctions in the "Public Account Pictures" folder.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10 Version 2004
Windows Server version 2004
Windows 10 Versions 1803, 1809, 1909
Windows Server 2019
Various other versions and Server editions as documented
Status: Affected

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker needs execution on victim system
Run specially crafted application to elevate privileges

Mitigation and Prevention

Ways to address and prevent the CVE-2020-1565 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Microsoft
Implement the necessary security measures on affected systems

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the Windows OS
Follow security best practices to prevent and detect privilege escalation attempts

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches