CVE-2020-8741 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves improper permissions in the installer for the Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM) non-DCH driver, potentially enabling escalation of privilege on Windows systems.

Understanding CVE-2020-8741

This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to exploit the Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM) driver installer to escalate privileges locally.

What is CVE-2020-8741?

The CVE-2020-8741 vulnerability arises from improper permissions in the installer for the Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM) non-DCH driver on Windows systems. An authenticated user could exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8741

The vulnerability could lead to an escalation of privilege for an attacker with local access to the system, potentially allowing them to perform unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8741

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper permissions in the Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM) non-DCH driver installer, affecting all versions on Windows.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM)
Versions: All versions (status: affected)

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw can be exploited by an authenticated user with local access to the system, enabling them to escalate their privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8741 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Intel promptly.
Monitor for any unauthorized privilege escalations on the system.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and drivers on the system.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user permissions.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM) driver is updated to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.