May 2020: Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
CVE-2020-1054 Published on May 21, 2020
Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system.
The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel-mode driver handles objects in memory.
Known Exploited Vulnerability
This Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability is part of CISA's list of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities. A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Windows when the Windows kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory.
The following remediation steps are recommended / required by May 3, 2022: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Weakness Type
What is a Memory Corruption Vulnerability?
The software writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Typically, this can result in corruption of data, a crash, or code execution. The software may modify an index or perform pointer arithmetic that references a memory location that is outside of the boundaries of the buffer. A subsequent write operation then produces undefined or unexpected results.
CVE-2020-1054 has been classified to as a Memory Corruption vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2020-1054
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Affected Versions
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507:- Version 10.0.10240.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.14393.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.17763.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.1.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.1.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.3.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.1.7601.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.1.7601.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.0.6003.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.0.6003.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.2.9200.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.2.9200.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.3.9600.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 6.3.9600.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.14393.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.14393.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.17763.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.17763.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
- Version 10.0.0 and below publication is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.