CVE-2019-0891 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-2019-0889, CVE-2019-0890, CVE-2019-0893, CVE-2019-0894, CVE-2019-0895, CVE-2019-0896, CVE-2019-0897, CVE-2019-0898, CVE-2019-0899, CVE-2019-0900, CVE-2019-0901, CVE-2019-0902.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-0891 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Windows Jet Database Engine component that forms part of Microsoft's database infrastructure. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the engine fails to properly handle objects in memory, creating a condition that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The Jet Database Engine serves as the foundation for various Microsoft applications including Access, Outlook, and numerous third-party applications that rely on Microsoft's database technologies, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory handling within the Jet Database Engine's processing of database objects. When maliciously crafted database files are processed by the engine, the memory management routines fail to validate or properly sanitize the input data, leading to memory corruption conditions. This memory corruption can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application process. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 "Exploitation for Client Execution" which describes how adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems.
From an operational impact standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where database files are frequently processed and shared. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file shares containing maliciously crafted database files. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that many applications using the Jet Database Engine automatically process database files without user intervention, creating opportunities for automated exploitation. Organizations running affected versions of Windows and applications that utilize the Jet Database Engine are at risk of complete system compromise, with potential for lateral movement and persistence within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-0891 should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, specifically addressing the Windows Jet Database Engine vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems that process database files, while employing application whitelisting to prevent execution of untrusted database files. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious database file processing activities, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify systems running legacy applications that may be vulnerable. Additionally, implementing email filtering solutions and web proxies that can detect and block malicious database file attachments provides an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.