External risk intelligence

Windows Error Reporting Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2019-0863

A vulnerability in Windows Error Reporting allows an attacker with local access to elevate privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized system control and data access. Organizations should address this by identifying affected systems and applying vendor updates.

1Halo Surface Signal

Microsoft Windows 10 1507

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2019-0863

This vulnerability affects a local Windows system component (Windows Error Reporting). It requires local access to the system to exploit, meaning it is not reachable via the public internet in common deployments.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability in Windows Error Reporting could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges on affected systems. This occurs due to how the error reporting feature handles files. If exploited, this could lead to significant disruption and unauthorized control over impacted systems.

Vulnerable: Windows Error Reporting
Flaw: Improper file handling
Impact: Elevated privileges and system control

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability allows an attacker to escalate privileges by exploiting how Windows Error Reporting handles files. An attacker with local access can trigger a specific action that results in the attacker gaining elevated control over the affected system. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data or further compromise of organizational systems.

Local access required.
Trigger specific file handling.
Attacker gains elevated control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A vulnerability in Windows Error Reporting (WER) allows for privilege escalation on affected systems. This means an attacker with existing access to a system could potentially gain higher-level administrative privileges. The full impact of such an escalation could involve unauthorized access to sensitive data, system control, or the deployment of further malicious software. Organizations should consider this a significant risk.

Attackers with low skill.
Requires local system access.
High business risk.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists within Windows Error Reporting (WER) due to how it handles files. This vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to execute code in kernel mode. Addressing this requires identifying affected systems, mitigating potential exposure, applying vendor-provided fixes, and verifying the resolution. Ongoing monitoring is also recommended to detect related activity.

Find affected Windows systems.
Reduce exposure or isolate affected assets.
Apply fixes, verify resolution, and monitor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nature of the Windows Error Reporting Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (CVE-2019-0863)?

CVE-2019-0863 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability found in the Windows Error Reporting (WER) component of Microsoft Windows. It arises from the way WER handles files, potentially allowing an attacker with local access to execute code with elevated privileges. This flaw could lead to unauthorized system control and access to sensitive data.

How does the Windows Error Reporting vulnerability allow for privilege escalation?

The vulnerability is rooted in the improper file handling within Windows Error Reporting. An attacker with local access to a compromised system can trigger a specific process that exploits this file handling flaw. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to gain elevated privileges, potentially executing code in kernel mode and achieving administrative control.

What systems are affected by the Windows Error Reporting privilege escalation vulnerability?

This vulnerability affects a wide range of Microsoft Windows operating systems, including various versions of Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows Server editions such as 2008 R2, 2012, 2016, and 2019. The specific affected versions are detailed in the product's vulnerability catalog.

How relevant is CVE-2019-0863 given it requires local access?

While CVE-2019-0863 requires local system access, it remains a significant threat. Attackers often gain initial low-privilege access through other means, making privilege escalation a critical next step. The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog lists this CVE, highlighting its practical use in real-world attacks and the importance of timely remediation.

What steps should be taken to address the Windows Error Reporting privilege escalation vulnerability?

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first identify all affected Windows systems. It is recommended to reduce exposure by isolating critical assets if possible. The primary remediation involves applying the security updates provided by Microsoft. After patching, verify that the resolution has been successful and implement ongoing monitoring to detect any suspicious activity related to privilege escalation attempts.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

External-surface CVE analysis and Halo Surface Signal prioritization for Halo Threat Intelligence.