Advisory Details

February 20th, 2020

Microsoft Windows NtUserResolveDesktopForWOW Heap-based Buffer Overflow Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

ZDI-20-259
ZDI-CAN-10076

CVE ID CVE-2020-0792
CVSS SCORE 8.8, AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
AFFECTED VENDORS Microsoft
AFFECTED PRODUCTS Windows
VULNERABILITY DETAILS

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the function NtUserResolveDesktopForWOW. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of SYSTEM.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0792
DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
  • 2020-01-14 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2020-02-20 - Coordinated public release of advisory
CREDIT anch0vy@theori, kkokkokye@theori
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