CVE-2021-0118 is a vulnerability that affects Microsoft Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). It is caused by the way WDAC enforces code integrity policies, allowing an attacker to bypass the policy and execute malicious code. The vulnerability was identified on January 12, 2021, and given a severity rating of "Important" by Microsoft.
The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising sensitive data and systems. Attackers can exploit CVE-2021-0118 by first gaining access to a system with WDAC enabled. They can then use various techniques to bypass the code integrity policy and execute malicious code. This type of attack is particularly dangerous because it does not require any user interaction, making it difficult to detect.
Microsoft released a security update on March 9, 2021, to address the vulnerability. Users are advised to apply the update as soon as possible to prevent exploitation. In addition to applying the patch, users should also monitor their systems for any signs of compromise and review their WDAC configurations to ensure they are properly set up to protect against future attacks.