CVE-2019-1380 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
A local elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in how splwow64.exe handles certain calls, aka 'Microsoft splwow64 Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1380 represents a critical local elevation of privilege flaw within the Windows operating system's printing subsystem. This vulnerability specifically affects the splwow64.exe process which serves as a 32-bit Windows on Windows 64-bit subsystem helper for printer driver operations. The issue arises from improper handling of certain function calls within this component, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access. This represents a significant security risk as it provides malicious actors with the ability to gain complete control over affected systems.
The technical flaw manifests in the way splwow64.exe processes printer driver installation and configuration operations. When a user interacts with certain printer-related functions, particularly those involving driver installation or updates, the system fails to properly validate input parameters and execution contexts. This improper validation creates a window where malicious code can be injected or executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation because it requires physical or remote access to the target system but does not require network connectivity or specific user interaction beyond normal system usage. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation involves privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1380 is substantial as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Once exploited, adversaries can execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges, enabling them to install malware, modify system files, create persistent backdoors, or extract sensitive data from the compromised system. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these systems are prevalent. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through compromised system processes. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious printer drivers, compromised print server configurations, or by leveraging other initial access points to reach the affected system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1380 primarily focus on applying Microsoft's security patches and implementing additional security controls. Organizations should immediately deploy the relevant security updates from Microsoft to address the vulnerability at the source. Additionally, system administrators should implement least privilege principles by restricting user permissions and limiting access to printer management functions. Network segmentation and monitoring of print server activities can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated antivirus signatures and implementing behavioral monitoring to detect suspicious process execution patterns. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary printer services and implementing strict printer driver signing policies to prevent installation of untrusted driver components. These layered defensive measures significantly reduce the attack surface and potential impact of exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.