CVE-2019-0880KEV · OVERDUE

Microsoft Windows Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

High · published July 15, 2019

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 7.8. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 83.2th percentile for exploit probability.

1593
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
2%
Percentile
83.2
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 A local elevation of privilege vulnerability in splwow64.exe could let an attacker take over your system—like a guest in your house suddenly becoming the homeowner! 🔥 This vulnerability is akin to a guest who figures out how to unlock your front door and stroll right into your private space. They're not just getting a tour; they can access everything inside—the ultimate invasion of privacy! An attacker with local access could exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to install malicious software, manipulate sensitive data, or even disable security features. This poses a substantial risk, especially in environments where users might have access to critical systems.

Put simply

This vulnerability is akin to a guest who figures out how to unlock your front door and stroll right into your private space. They're not just getting a tour; they can access everything inside—the ultimate invasion of privacy! The issue arises in how splwow64.exe handles certain calls, enabling a malicious user to escalate their privileges without proper authorization, thereby gaining control over the affected system.

What to do

An attacker with local access could exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to install malicious software, manipulate sensitive data, or even disable security features. This poses a substantial risk, especially in environments where users might have access to critical systems. To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure you apply the latest security updates from Microsoft, particularly any patches relating to splwow64.exe. Review and limit user permissions on your systems to reduce the risk of exploitation and regularly monitor for any unusual activities. You've got this! By following these steps, you can secure your systems and keep those unwanted guests at bay! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02308 · 83.2th percentile
Published
2019-07-15T18:56Z
KEV added
2022-05-23 · due 2022-06-13
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 23 MAY 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Jun 13
    kev
  • 15 JUL 18:56Z
    A local elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in how splwow64.exe handles certain calls, aka 'Microsoft splwow64 Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'
    cvelistv5