CVE-2020-1079 Microsoft Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

High 7.8 Published Updated

A local attacker can execute arbitrary code and gain full user rights by exploiting improper memory handling in Windows.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Any signed-in user
Attackable
Local or same network only
Victim action needed
Not needed
Fix
None listed

What is CVE-2020-1079?

CVE-2020-1079 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 21 May 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code. 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 to take control of an affected system. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows handles objects in memory.

Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-1079?

It affects 6 products.

Products include Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019.

How do I fix CVE-2020-1079?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-1079 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2020-1079 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1079 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Microsoft Windows 10 vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-375h-4wr8-m676.

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