Alert - Critical Microsoft Cryptographic Vulnerability

Number: AL20-001
Date: 14 January 2020

AUDIENCE
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This Alert is intended for IT professionals and managers of notified organizations.

PURPOSE
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An Alert is used to raise awareness of a recently identified cyber threat Cyber threatA threat actor, using the internet, who takes advantage of a known vulnerability in a product for the purposes of exploiting a network and the information the network carries. that may impact cyber information assets, and to provide additional detection DetectionThe monitoring and analyzing of system events in order to identify unauthorized attempts to access system resources. and mitigation advice to recipients. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security Cyber securityThe protection of digital information, as well as the integrity of the infrastructure housing and transmitting digital information. More specifically, cyber security includes the body of technologies, processes, practices and response and mitigation measures designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access so as to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability. ("Cyber Centre") is also available to provide additional assistance regarding the content of this Alert to recipients as requested.

DETAILS
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Microsoft has released security updates for critical vulnerabilities, including one affecting Microsoft Windows cryptographic functionality. This ‘improper certificate validation’ vulnerability VulnerabilityA flaw or weakness in the design or implementation of an information system or its environment that could be exploited to adversely affect an organization's assets or operations. , tracked as CVE-2020-0601, prevents Microsoft Windows from accurately verifying cryptographic trust and may allow an actor to impersonate a trusted entity. Exploitation of this vulnerability would defeat systems that rely on the use of valid certificates to ensure cryptographic trust, allowing full access to encrypted communications and for the ability to execute any code with permissions reserved for trusted software.
The vulnerable operating systems are:

- Windows 10
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019

SUGGESTED ACTION
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The Cyber Centre recommends that organizations immediately install the latest security updates from Microsoft.

REFERENCES
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Microsoft Advisory:
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0601
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-us/security-guidance

NSA Advisory:
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jan/14/2002234275/-1/-1/0/CSA-WINDOWS-10-CRYPT-LIB-20190114.PDF

NOTE TO READERS
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The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) operates as part of the Communications Security Establishment.  We are Canada's national authority on cyber security and we lead the government's response to cyber security events. As Canada's national computer security incident response team, the
Cyber Centre works in close collaboration with government departments, critical infrastructure Critical infrastructureProcesses, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and services essential to the health, safety, security, or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. Critical infrastructure can be stand-alone or interconnected and interdependent within and across provinces, territories, and national borders. Disruptions of critical infrastructure could result in catastrophic loss of life, adverse economic effects, and significant harm to public confidence. , Canadian businesses and international partners to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from cyber events. We do this by providing authoritative advice and support, and coordinating information
sharing and incident response. The Cyber Centre is outward-facing, welcoming partnerships that help build a stronger, more resilient cyber space in Canada.