CVE-2019-1009 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when the Windows GDI component improperly discloses the contents of its memory, aka 'Windows GDI Information Disclosure Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0968, CVE-2019-0977, CVE-2019-1010, CVE-2019-1011, CVE-2019-1012, CVE-2019-1013, CVE-2019-1015, CVE-2019-1016, CVE-2019-1046, CVE-2019-1047, CVE-2019-1048, CVE-2019-1049, CVE-2019-1050.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
The Windows Graphics Device Interface GDI component vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw that affects the operating system's graphics subsystem. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the GDI component fails to properly manage memory access controls, allowing unauthorized information disclosure from system memory regions. The issue resides within the kernel-mode graphics driver components that handle rendering operations and memory management for graphical user interfaces. Security researchers identified that certain processing paths within the GDI subsystem do not adequately validate memory boundaries when handling graphics operations, creating potential exposure points for sensitive data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where privilege escalation opportunities may exist, potentially allowing attackers to access memory contents that should remain protected.
This information disclosure vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the Windows GDI subsystem, classified under CWE-200 as "Information Exposure" and potentially related to CWE-125 "Out-of-bounds Read" or CWE-787 "Out-of-bounds Write" depending on the specific implementation details. The flaw occurs during graphics rendering operations where the GDI component processes user-supplied graphics data without sufficient bounds checking or memory isolation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious graphics operations that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the system to leak memory contents including potentially sensitive information such as kernel memory structures, user credentials, or application data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various attack vectors including web browsing, document processing, or graphics-intensive applications that utilize the Windows GDI API.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Windows security model. When memory contents are leaked, attackers can potentially extract cryptographic keys, credential information, or other sensitive data that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within a network. The vulnerability affects Windows systems running various versions including Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, with the most significant impact occurring on systems that frequently process graphics-intensive content or are exposed to untrusted graphics data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as attackers can leverage the information disclosure to gain deeper system access. The vulnerability also relates to T1552 "Unsecured Credentials" when sensitive authentication data is leaked from memory.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate patch deployment and operational security enhancements. Microsoft released security updates that address the memory handling issues within the GDI subsystem, requiring system administrators to apply the relevant patches promptly to all affected Windows systems. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems that process untrusted graphics content, particularly in environments where users may encounter malicious documents or web content. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous graphics processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, with particular attention to memory access violations or unusual graphics API calls. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary graphics processing capabilities, implementing application whitelisting for graphics-intensive applications, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems that may still be exposed to similar memory management flaws. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in kernel-mode components and the potential for seemingly benign graphics operations to create significant security risks.