CVE-2019-0853 — GDI+ Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Executive Summary

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI) handles objects in the memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability: In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability and then convince users to view the website. An attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically by getting them to open an email attachment or click a link in an email or instant message. In a file-sharing attack scenario, an attacker could provide a specially crafted document file that is designed to exploit the vulnerability, and then convince users to open the document file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that the Windows GDI handles objects in the memory.

Overview

7.8

CVSS HIGH

Critical

MS Severity

Not Exploited

MS Exploit Status

Less Likely

MS Exploit Likelihood

Category Remote Code Execution

Released Apr 9 2019

Last Updated Apr 9 2019

Publicly Disclosed No

CISA KEV Not Listed

Known Exploits None Known

EPSS Score 0.27571 — 0.97822 percentile

CVSS Vector

ATTACK VECTOR

Local

ATTACK COMPLEXITY

Low

PRIVILEGES REQUIRED

None

USER INTERACTION

Required

SCOPE

Unchanged

Temporal Score: 7.8

EPSS Score

0.27571

probability of exploitation in the next 30 days

0.97822 percentile - updated 2026-06-20

View on FIRST.org

Affected Products

38 affected products

Product	KB Article	Severity	Impact	Restart Required
Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems	`4493475 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 for x64-based Systems	`4493475 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems	`4493470 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems	`4493470 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems	`4493474 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems	`4493474 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems	`4493441 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems	`4493441 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems	`4493441 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems	`4493464 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems	`4493464 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems	`4493464 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems	`4493509 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems	`4493509 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems	`4493509 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1	`4493472 (Monthly Rollup) 4493448 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1	`4493472 (Monthly Rollup) 4493448 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems	`4493446 (Monthly Rollup) 4493467 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems	`4493446 (Monthly Rollup) 4493467 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows RT 8.1	`4493446 (Monthly Rollup)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2	`4493471 (Monthly Rollup) 4493458 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)	`4493471 (Monthly Rollup) 4493458 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2	`4493471 (Monthly Rollup) 4493458 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2	`4493471 (Monthly Rollup) 4493458 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)	`4493471 (Monthly Rollup) 4493458 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1	`4493472 (Monthly Rollup) 4493448 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1	`4493472 (Monthly Rollup) 4493448 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)	`4493472 (Monthly Rollup) 4493448 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2012	`4493451 (Monthly Rollup) 4493450 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)	`4493451 (Monthly Rollup) 4493450 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2012 R2	`4493446 (Monthly Rollup) 4493467 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)	`4493446 (Monthly Rollup) 4493467 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2016	`4493470 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)	`4493470 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2019	`4493509 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)	`4493509 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server, version 1709 (Server Core Installation)	`4493441 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation)	`4493464 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes

Patches

11 patches

Article	Type	Restart
`4493475`	Security Update	Yes
`4493470`	Security Update	Yes
`4493474`	Security Update	Yes
`4493441`	Security Update	Yes
`4493464`	Security Update	Yes
`4493509`	Security Update	Yes
`4493472 (Monthly Rollup) 4493448`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4493446 (Monthly Rollup) 4493467`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4493446`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4493471 (Monthly Rollup) 4493458`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4493451 (Monthly Rollup) 4493450`	Monthly Rollup	Yes

Known Exploits

No known exploits have been linked for this CVE yet. When available, exploit references will be sourced from public repositories and may be unverified, incomplete, or non-functional. Always review code carefully before use in any environment.

Acknowledgments

Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative, @0vercl0k ) of MSRC Vulnerabilities and Mitigations Team, @masthoon ) of MSRC Vulnerabilities and Mitigations Team

References

MSRC Advisory MITRE NVD