Microsoft Windows up to Server 2019 Win32k access control

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Microsoft Windows. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Win32k. The manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2019-0797. The attack can be initiated remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System). This issue affects an unknown code of the component Win32k. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-264. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0808.

The bug was discovered 03/12/2019. The weakness was released 03/12/2019 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release was coordinated with Microsoft. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2019-0797 since 11/26/2018. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack may be initiated remotely. A simple authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/29/2025). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

It is declared as attacked. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 91510 (Microsoft Windows Security Update March 2019). The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 11/03/2021 with a due date of 05/03/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Zero-Day.cz (534) and EUVD (EUVD-2019-1553). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-131685, VDB-131679 and VDB-131683. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Windows

Version

• 8.1
• 10
• 10 1607
• 10 1703
• 10 1709
• 10 1803
• 10 1809
• RT 8.1
• Server 1709
• Server 1803
• Server 2012
• Server 2012 R2
• Server 2016
• Server 2019

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/
• Product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

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Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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