CVE-2019-0822 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Microsoft Graphics Components handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft Graphics Components Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0822 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft Graphics Components that affects multiple Windows operating systems. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects in memory during graphics processing operations, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw specifically impacts the Windows kernel-mode graphics drivers and components that process graphics data, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised applications. The vulnerability exists in the Windows Graphics Component subsystem, which is responsible for processing graphics operations across the operating system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient validation and memory management within the graphics processing pipeline. When Microsoft Graphics Components process certain graphics objects, they fail to properly validate input parameters and memory boundaries, leading to potential memory corruption vulnerabilities. This memory corruption can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the graphics processing component. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which is a common vector for memory corruption exploits. Attackers can craft specially malformed graphics data that triggers the vulnerable code path, causing the system to execute unintended code sequences. The exploitation typically occurs when a user interacts with malicious content that triggers the graphics processing component to handle the malformed data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across enterprise environments. Systems running affected Windows versions become vulnerable to remote code execution attacks that can result in complete system compromise without user interaction. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise networks where attackers can leverage it to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and move laterally across the network. The vulnerability affects Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, with the most significant risk to systems that process untrusted graphics content. Organizations with systems that regularly process graphics from external sources, such as web browsers, multimedia applications, or document processing software, face heightened exposure. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious websites, and phishing campaigns, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-0822 should focus on immediate patch management and operational security controls. Microsoft released security update 4487345 that addresses this vulnerability by correcting the memory handling in graphics components and implementing additional input validation measures. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this security update across all affected systems, particularly those with high-risk exposure. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted graphics processing applications, configuring network firewalls to block unnecessary graphics-related ports, and enabling exploit protection features such as control flow guard and address space layout randomization. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual graphics processing activity or unexpected system behavior. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as attackers can leverage the executed code to establish persistence and maintain access. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other system components.