CVE-2020-1506

Windows Start-Up Application Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Published Sep 11, 2020 CVSS 3.1 · 6.1 Medium EPSS 2.1% KEV · Not listed

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Wininit.dll handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute code with elevated permissions.
There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability:
<ul>
<li>In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email message or in an Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email.
</li>
<li>In a file sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file that is designed to exploit this vulnerability, and then convince a user to open the document file.
</li>
</ul>
The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring the Wininit.dll properly handles objects in memory.

Analysis

No analysis available yet

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Microsoft

Internet Explorer 11

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`1.0.0`	affected	< publication

Configuration 1 [-]

AND

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:internet_explorer:11:-:*:*:*:*:*:*

OR	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1709:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1803:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1809:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1903:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1909:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:2004:::::::*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:-:::::::*

No data.

No data available yet.

Remediation

No remediation available yet

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
EUVD	EUVD-2020-12380	<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Wininit.dll handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute code with elevated permissions.</p> <p>There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability:</p> <ul> <li><p>In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email message or in an Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email.</p> </li> <li><p>In a file sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file that is designed to exploit this vulnerability, and then convince a user to open the document file.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring the Wininit.dll properly handles objects in memory.</p>

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact Low

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

Access Vector Network

Access Complexity Medium

Authentication None

Confidentiality Impact Partial

Integrity Impact Partial

Availability Impact Partial

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: 2.1% (2.095% probability within 30 days)

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

References

Link	Providers
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1506

History

Feb 23, 2026 6:15 PM Description updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description	<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Wininit.dll handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute code with elevated permissions.</p> <p>There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability:</p> <ul> <li><p>In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email message or in an Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email.</p> </li> <li><p>In a file sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file that is designed to exploit this vulnerability, and then convince a user to open the document file.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring the Wininit.dll properly handles objects in memory.</p>	<p>An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Wininit.dll handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute code with elevated permissions.</p> <p>There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability:</p> <ul> <li><p>In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to click a link in an email message or in an Instant Messenger message that takes users to the attacker's website, or by opening an attachment sent through email.</p> </li> <li><p>In a file sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file that is designed to exploit this vulnerability, and then convince a user to open the document file.</p> </li> </ul> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring the Wininit.dll properly handles objects in memory.</p>