CVE-2020-16863 : Security Advisory and Response

Windows Remote Desktop Service Denial of Service Vulnerability was published on October 13, 2020, by Microsoft affecting various Windows versions.

Understanding CVE-2020-16863

A denial of service vulnerability in Windows Remote Desktop Service allows attackers to disrupt the service by sending specially crafted requests.

What is CVE-2020-16863?

This vulnerability in Windows Remote Desktop Service enables attackers to cause the service to stop responding by exploiting it through RDP connections.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16863

Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to a denial of service, disrupting the Remote Desktop Service on the target system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16863

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises when an attacker connects to the target system via RDP and sends specific requests, causing the Remote Desktop Service to become unresponsive.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 7 (32-bit Systems) version 6.1.0
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (x64-based Systems) version 6.1.0
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (x64-based Systems) version 6.1.0
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (x64-based Systems) version 6.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs to run a specially crafted application against a server providing Remote Desktop Service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2020-16863 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Microsoft to fix the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to secure remote desktop connections.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.