Privilege escalation in Windows Defender

1) Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls

EUVDB-ID: #VU46513

Risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 5.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2020-0951

CWE-ID: CWE-264 - Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to bypass implemented security restrictions.

The vulnerability exists in Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC), which could allow an attacker to bypass WDAC enforcement. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker need administrator access on a local machine where PowerShell is running. The attacker could then connect to a PowerShell session and send commands to execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation

Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Windows: 10 1607 10.0.14393.10 - 10 2004 10.0.19041.264

Windows Server: 2016 10.0.14393.10 - 2019 2004

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1607:10.0.14393.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1709:10.0.16299.19:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1803:10.0.17134.48:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1809:10.0.17763.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1903:10.0.18362.116:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1909:10.0.18363.476:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_2004:10.0.19041.264:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:2016:10.0.14393.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:2019:10.0.17763.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:2019_1903:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0951

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.