CVE-2020-1391 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed description of CVE-2020-1391 focusing on an information disclosure vulnerability in Windows systems.

Understanding CVE-2020-1391

What is CVE-2020-1391?

An information disclosure vulnerability in Windows Agent Activation Runtime (AarSvc) that mishandles objects in memory, leading to data exposure.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1391

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to access sensitive information, potentially compromising system confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1391

Vulnerability Description

The flaw occurs in how Windows Agent Activation Runtime handles objects, enabling unauthorized disclosure of data, identified as 'Windows Agent Activation Runtime Information Disclosure Vulnerability'.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10 Version 2004 for 32-bit, ARM64-based, and x64-based Systems
Windows Server version 2004 (Server Core installation)
Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit and x64-based Systems
Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems
Windows Server version 1909 (Server Core installation)
Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit, x64-based, and ARM64-based Systems
Windows Server version 1903 (Server Core installation)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a remote, unauthenticated attacker to retrieve sensitive information from affected Windows systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential breaches.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to ensure system integrity.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released patches addressing CVE-2020-1391, ensure that all affected Windows versions are updated with the latest security fixes.