CVE-2019-1091 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Unistore.dll fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Microsoft unistore.dll Information Disclosure Vulnerability'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1091 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft's unistore.dll component, which forms part of the Windows operating system's storage and database management infrastructure. This particular vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects within the unistore.dll library, which is responsible for managing structured storage and database operations in Windows applications. The flaw manifests when the system processes certain data structures that are not adequately validated or sanitized before being processed in memory, creating opportunities for unauthorized information exposure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation mechanisms within unistore.dll's memory management routines. When the library processes specific data objects, it fails to properly validate the memory boundaries and object references, allowing for potential information leakage through memory corruption or improper object handling. This weakness enables attackers to potentially extract sensitive data from memory locations that should remain protected, including potentially confidential application data, system information, or other proprietary content stored within the affected memory regions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the way the library handles structured storage objects and database records, creating pathways for information disclosure through memory access violations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1091 extends across multiple Windows environments where unistore.dll is utilized, including desktop operating systems, server platforms, and applications that rely on Windows structured storage functionality. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive information that might include user credentials, application data, system configuration details, or other confidential material stored within the memory space. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level within core Windows components, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or lateral movement within compromised environments. Organizations running affected Windows versions may experience unauthorized data exposure, potentially leading to compliance violations, intellectual property theft, or further exploitation opportunities.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying Microsoft's security patches and updates as released through the Windows Update mechanism. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure weaknesses, and may be exploited through techniques consistent with ATT&CK tactic T1005, focusing on data from local system. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around memory access patterns and structured storage operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented mitigations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in system-level components and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of core Windows libraries to prevent similar information disclosure scenarios.