CVE-2019-0859

Microsoft Win32k: Privilege Escalation

As of , CVE-2019-0859 in Microsoft Win32k is on CISA's list of exploited vulnerabilities: CISA listed it on . Our patch-first group: Patch this week.

Exploited
Yes: CISA listed it on 3 November 2021
US federal deadline
3 May 2022181 days after CISA listed it. US federal civilian agencies must fix it by then.
Used in ransomware campaigns
KnownCISA changed it from Unknown to Known on 9 September 2026.
EPSS score
0.04Higher than 90% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
EPSS when listed
Not availableCISA listed it before 4 February 2022, where the EPSS files we read begin.
Public exploit
None foundNeither Metasploit nor Exploit-DB lists one.
Fix
No vendor link in CISA's entry

What CISA says to do

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA's required action

What the flaw is

Microsoft Win32k fails to properly handle objects in memory causing privilege escalation. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to run code in kernel mode.

CISA's description

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-2019-0685, CVE-2019-0803.

The CVE record's description, from microsoft

CVE published
9 April 2019
Assigned by
microsoft
CVSS
7.8 High (CVSS 3.1, from CISA-ADP)
CISA SSVC, exploitation
active
CISA SSVC, automatable
no
CISA SSVC, technical impact
total

Timeline

  1. The CVE record was published.
  2. CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
  3. The US federal deadline to fix it.
  4. CISA changed its entry. Ransomware use: Unknown to Known.

Win32k: other exploited entries

VulnerabilityProductOur groupListedDeadlineEPSS
CVE-2014-4113Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.87; verified Exploit-DB entry0.87
CVE-2018-8120Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.73; verified Exploit-DB entry0.73
CVE-2015-1701Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.56; verified Exploit-DB entry0.56
CVE-2018-8453Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.70; verified Exploit-DB entry0.70
CVE-2013-3660Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekMetasploit module; verified Exploit-DB entry0.39
CVE-2022-21882Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.590.59
CVE-2019-1458Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.740.74
CVE-2021-1732Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.780.78
CVE-2019-0808Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.530.53
CVE-2020-1054Privilege EscalationMicrosoft Win32kPatch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.540.54

All 25 entries for Win32k

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