CVE-2020-5963

What it actually does

Improper access control in Inter Process Communication APIs permits local attackers to achieve code execution, denial of service, or information disclosure.

Why it matters to the business

Attackers with local access can execute arbitrary code, disrupt operations, or exfiltrate data, increasing risk of system compromise and potential regulatory exposure on affected deployments.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with local user privileges interacts with the vulnerable IPC APIs, bypasses access controls, and leverages the flaw to execute code, cause denial of service, or disclose sensitive information.

How to fix it

Upgrade envoyproxy/envoy to the fixed commit ea39e3cba652bcc4b11bb0d5c62b017e584d2e5a or later; apply vendor patches for NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver where applicable and verify deployment.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the installed version matches or exceeds the fixed commit ea39e3cba652bcc4b11bb0d5c62b017e584d2e5a; retest IPC API access controls and monitor for regression in authorization checks.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain local access on a system running the vulnerable component
2. Identify and interact with the exposed Inter Process Communication APIs
3. Exploit improper access control to escalate privileges or trigger unauthorized actions
4. Achieve code execution, denial of service, or information disclosure

How to detect it

Review system and application logs for unusual IPC API calls or access attempts from low-privileged processes; examine process creation events following driver interactions.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize upgrade of envoyproxy/envoy to ea39e3cba652bcc4b11bb0d5c62b017e584d2e5a across all instances
• Audit local privilege boundaries and IPC exposure on systems using the affected driver
• Implement least-privilege access for processes interacting with display driver components
• Monitor for post-fix behavioral changes in IPC-related logs