CVE-2019-1098 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-2019-1094, CVE-2019-1095, CVE-2019-1099, CVE-2019-1100, CVE-2019-1101, CVE-2019-1116.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2023
The Windows Graphics Device Interface GDI component vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw that affects the operating system's graphics rendering subsystem. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the GDI component fails to properly manage memory access controls, allowing unauthorized processes to potentially read sensitive data from memory regions that should remain protected. The issue resides within the kernel-mode drivers responsible for graphics processing and display management, making it particularly concerning for system security. The vulnerability impacts multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, creating widespread exposure across enterprise environments where graphical applications are commonly used.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of memory access requests within the GDI subsystem. When processing certain graphics operations, the component fails to enforce adequate bounds checking and memory protection mechanisms, enabling malicious code to exploit memory layout information through crafted graphics operations. This flaw operates at the kernel level where privileges are elevated, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers to extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in memory. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 as "Information Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 "Data from Local System" and T1059 "Command and Scripting Interpreter" when exploited through malicious graphics processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the Windows environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gather sufficient information to conduct further attacks including privilege escalation, credential theft, or system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal user interaction and can be automated through malicious applications or web-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently execute malicious code. Organizations running affected Windows versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches released in the July 2019 Patch Tuesday updates. System administrators should prioritize patch management across all affected Windows systems, particularly those running server environments where the attack surface is larger. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted graphics applications, configuring enhanced memory protection mechanisms through Windows Defender Application Control, and monitoring for suspicious graphics-related API calls in system logs. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should verify that systems remain protected against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the critical nature of kernel-mode security in operating system design, as failures in this area can compromise entire system architectures.