CVE-2020-16916 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Windows COM Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published on October 13, 2020, by Microsoft. The vulnerability affects various Windows versions, allowing attackers to run arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

Understanding CVE-2020-16916

What is CVE-2020-16916?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows occurs due to improper handling of COM object creation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16916

This vulnerability enables attackers to run specially crafted applications to take control of affected systems by exploiting the Windows COM Server.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16916

Vulnerability Description

Windows improperly handles COM object creation, leading to an elevation of privilege vulnerability.
Attackers can exploit this flaw to run arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10 Version 1803, 1809, 1909, 2004
Windows Server 2019, 2019 (Server Core installation), 2016, 2016 (Server Core installation)
Windows 7, 7 Service Pack 1, 8.1, RT 8.1
Windows Server 2008, 2008 Service Pack 2, 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, 2012, 2012 (Server Core installation), 2012 R2, 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers need system access to exploit the vulnerability.
By running a specially crafted application, attackers can take control of the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Microsoft.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior.
Restrict user permissions to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update systems with the latest security patches.
Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released an update to address the vulnerability in the Windows COM Server.