CVE-2019-1132
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2019-1132 is a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Microsoft Win32k. A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory. CISA has added CVE-2019-1132 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 35.64% (97.0th percentile), this vulnerability has a significant probability of being exploited.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows 7 | - |
| microsoft | windows server 2008 | -; r2 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-1132(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-1132(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No CWE Assigned
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2019-1132. Based on the vulnerability description, this is a privilege escalation issue in Microsoft Win32k where a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2019-1132 represents a significant threat to organizations using Microsoft Win32k, carrying a CVSS score of 7.8. Successful exploitation can fully compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Attackers can access sensitive data, modify system configurations or data, and disrupt service availability. While the local attack vector requires the attacker to have initial access to the system, privilege escalation vulnerabilities are frequently chained with other exploits for full system compromise.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2019-1132 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming real-world exploitation. The EPSS score of 35.64% (97.0th percentile) indicates a significant probability of exploitation in the wild. The age of this vulnerability combined with its continued inclusion in the KEV catalog suggests that many organizations have yet to fully remediate it.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as required by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Update Microsoft Win32k to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability.
- Until the patch is applied, enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting local user access to only those who require it, and restrict the ability to execute untrusted applications on affected systems.
- Monitor affected systems for signs of compromise by reviewing security logs for anomalous activity, unauthorized access attempts, and unexpected system changes related to Win32k.
- Verify the patch deployment across all instances of Microsoft Win32k in your environment using vulnerability scanning to confirm no systems remain exposed.
- Review and update your organization's vulnerability management process to ensure CISA KEV entries with a remediation deadline of 2022-04-05 are addressed within the required timeframe.
Technical Details
CVE-2019-1132 is a security vulnerability affecting Microsoft Win32k. A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory. The vulnerability is exploitable with local access to the target system, with low attack complexity, requiring low-level privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) reflects high confidentiality impact, high integrity impact, and high availability impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2019-1132 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2019-1132 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. The EPSS score of 35.64% (97.0th percentile) indicates a significant probability of exploitation.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-1132?
CVE-2019-1132 primarily affects Microsoft Win32k, as well as Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Organizations should check whether any instances of the affected software are running in their environment.
How do I fix CVE-2019-1132?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Until the update is applied, limit local access privileges and monitor for suspicious activity on affected systems.
How severe is CVE-2019-1132?
CVE-2019-1132 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, rated HIGH. This high severity rating indicates significant potential impact on affected systems. The inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog means organizations are required to remediate this vulnerability within the specified deadline.
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