CVE-2019-1129KEV · OVERDUE

Microsoft Windows AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC) Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

High · published July 29, 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 78.1th percentile for exploit probability.

1662
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
2%
Percentile
78.1
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 Windows AppX Deployment Service has a sneaky flaw with hard links that could let attackers elevate their privileges! ⚡ Think of hard links like poorly managed hotel keys that let a guest get into rooms they're not supposed to access. Without proper oversight, an attacker could wander into restricted areas, accessing private data and making changes as if they were the manager. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges on a system, allowing them to access sensitive information, modify configurations, or even install malicious software. This could lead to a complete system compromise, making it a truly devastating issue!

Put simply

Think of hard links like poorly managed hotel keys that let a guest get into rooms they're not supposed to access. Without proper oversight, an attacker could wander into restricted areas, accessing private data and making changes as if they were the manager. This elevation of privilege vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of hard links in the Windows AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC). If exploited, it allows an attacker with limited access to gain greater control over the system.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges on a system, allowing them to access sensitive information, modify configurations, or even install malicious software. This could lead to a complete system compromise, making it a truly devastating issue! Patch your systems immediately to address this vulnerability. Ensure you are running the latest version of Windows with the appropriate security updates, and consider auditing user permissions to minimize risks. Don't wait—tighten your defenses now! You've got this! Follow these steps, and your systems will be safer in no time. 🛡️

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
0.01782 · 78.1th percentile
Published
2019-07-29T14:13Z
KEV added
2022-03-15 · due 2022-04-05
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 15 MAR 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Apr 5
    kev
  • 29 JUL 14:13Z
    An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC) improperly handles hard links, aka 'Windows Elevation of…
    cvelistv5