CVE-2020-1020
Memory Safety in Microsoft Windows 10 1803
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2020-1020 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1803. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 0.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
A remote code execution vulnerability tracked as CVE-2020-1020 exists in the Windows Adobe Type Manager Library when it improperly processes a specially crafted multi-master font in Adobe Type 1 PostScript format. The flaw affects Microsoft Windows systems and is distinct from the related CVE-2020-0938. It carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 and is associated with CWE-787.
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit the issue over a network by convincing a user to open or preview a malicious document containing the crafted font. Successful exploitation grants remote code execution with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability on all affected Windows versions except Windows 10, where the impact is limited.
Microsoft security advisories at portal.msrc.microsoft.com detail patches and mitigation guidance for the vulnerability. The flaw is also catalogued by CISA among actively exploited vulnerabilities in the wild.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-11916
Vulnerability Data
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Windows when the Windows Adobe Type Manager Library improperly handles a specially-crafted multi-master font - Adobe Type 1 PostScript format.For all systems except Windows 10, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability…
more
could execute code remotely, aka 'Adobe Font Manager Library Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0938.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 03 November 2021
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.
Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.
Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.
Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.
Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.
Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.
Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.
Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.