CVE-2020-17076 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Windows Update Orchestrator Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published on November 11, 2020, by Microsoft. The vulnerability affects various versions of Windows, including Windows 10 and Windows Server.

Understanding CVE-2020-17076

This CVE identifies an Elevation of Privilege vulnerability in the Windows Update Orchestrator Service.

What is CVE-2020-17076?

The CVE-2020-17076 vulnerability pertains to an elevation of privilege issue within the Windows Update Orchestrator Service, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges on the affected system.

The Impact of CVE-2020-17076

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.8. If exploited, attackers could elevate their privileges on the system, leading to potential unauthorized access and control.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-17076

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the Windows Update Orchestrator Service, enabling attackers to escalate their privileges on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10 Version 1909 (32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems, ARM64-based Systems)
Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)
Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems, and ARM64-based Systems
Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)
Windows 10 Version 2004 (32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems)
Windows Server version 2004
Windows 10 Version 20H2 (ARM64-based Systems, 32-bit Systems)
Windows Server version 20H2 (x64-based Systems)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code and potentially take control of the affected system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-17076 with the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates provided by Microsoft promptly.
Monitor for any suspicious activities on the network.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and operating systems.
Conduct security training for employees to recognize and report potential security threats.
Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of a potential breach.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest security patches released by Microsoft.