CVE-2019-0597 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Jet Database Engine improperly handles objects in memory, aka 'Jet Database Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0595, CVE-2019-0596, CVE-2019-0598, CVE-2019-0599, CVE-2019-0625.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0597 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Windows Jet Database Engine component that forms part of Microsoft's legacy database infrastructure. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the engine fails to properly handle objects in memory, creating exploitable conditions that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The Jet Database Engine serves as a core component in numerous Microsoft applications including Access, Outlook, and various enterprise solutions, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper memory handling within the Jet Database Engine's object management system. When processing specially crafted database files or objects, the engine's memory management routines fail to validate or properly sanitize input data, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of 'Stack-based Buffer Overflow' and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to execute malicious commands through PowerShell scripts that manipulate database objects. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of database objects, where the engine does not adequately validate the size or structure of incoming data, allowing attackers to overwrite memory locations and potentially redirect execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-0597 extends significantly across enterprise environments where Windows systems utilizing Jet Database Engine components are prevalent. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious documents that contain specially crafted database objects. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows for complete system compromise with potential elevation to SYSTEM privileges, enabling attackers to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012, with the risk being particularly high in environments where users regularly interact with database files or applications that utilize the Jet Database Engine.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches released as part of the May 2019 security updates, which specifically address this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted database files, configuring email security filters to block suspicious database attachments, and establishing network segmentation to limit lateral movement. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 2017 category A03: Injection, where inadequate validation of user-supplied data can lead to severe remote code execution vulnerabilities. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise including unusual database processing activities, unexpected system reboots, or unauthorized access attempts that may suggest exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.