^{CVE-2020-1036:}Hyper-V RemoteFX vGPU Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

This vulnerability (CVE-2020-1036) is classified as CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and affects Microsoft Hyper-V's RemoteFX vGPU feature. The issue occurs when the host server does not properly validate input from authenticated users on guest operating systems. An attacker with access to a guest VM could craft special input that, when processed by the RemoteFX vGPU feature, could allow code execution on the host system.

The vulnerability requires the attacker to have authentication on the guest operating system. However, once exploited, it could allow the attacker to break out of the virtual machine isolation and execute code on the host server, potentially compromising the entire virtualization infrastructure. This represents a serious security risk for environments using Hyper-V with RemoteFX vGPU enabled.

Remediation

To address this vulnerability, system administrators should:

1. Apply the appropriate security updates from Microsoft as soon as possible. Microsoft has released patches addressing this vulnerability in their security updates.

2. Consider disabling the RemoteFX vGPU feature if not strictly required, as Microsoft has deprecated this feature due to multiple security concerns.

3. Implement proper access controls for guest virtual machines to limit who can authenticate to them.

4. Ensure that only trusted users have access to virtual machines with RemoteFX vGPU capabilities.

5. Monitor for suspicious activities on Hyper-V hosts, particularly any unusual processes or operations that might indicate a VM escape attempt.

6. Follow Microsoft's guidance on securing virtualization environments, including regular patching and security best practices.

References

1. Microsoft Security Advisory: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1036

2. NVIDIA Advisory (related to the same issue): https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5044

3. Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/

4. Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE-20): https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/20.html

5. Microsoft Hyper-V Security Documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/user-guide/security-best-practices