CVE-2019-0788 — Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Executive Summary

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the Windows Remote Desktop Client when a user connects to a malicious server. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code on the computer of the connecting client. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to have control of a server and then convince a user to connect to it. An attacker would have no way of forcing a user to connect to the malicious server, they would need to trick the user into connecting via social engineering, DNS poisoning or using a Man in the Middle (MITM) technique. An attacker could also compromise a legitimate server, host malicious code on it, and wait for the user to connect. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how the Windows Remote Desktop Client handles connection requests.

Overview

7.5

CVSS HIGH

Critical

MS Severity

Not Exploited

MS Exploit Status

More Likely

MS Exploit Likelihood

Category Remote Code Execution

Released Sep 10 2019

Last Updated Sep 10 2019

Publicly Disclosed No

CISA KEV Not Listed

Known Exploits None Known

EPSS Score 0.11672 — 0.95512 percentile

CVSS Vector

ATTACK VECTOR

Network

ATTACK COMPLEXITY

High

PRIVILEGES REQUIRED

None

USER INTERACTION

Required

SCOPE

Unchanged

Temporal Score: 6.7

EPSS Score

0.11672

probability of exploitation in the next 30 days

0.95512 percentile - updated 2026-06-20

View on FIRST.org

Affected Products

21 affected products

Product	KB Article	Severity	Impact	Restart Required
Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems	`4516070 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 for x64-based Systems	`4516070 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems	`4516044 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems	`4516044 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems	`4516068 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems	`4516068 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems	`4516066 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems	`4516066 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems	`4516066 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems	`4516058 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems	`4516058 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems	`4516058 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems	`4512578 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems	`4512578 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems	`4512578 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems	`4515384 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems	`4515384 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems	`4515384 (Security Update)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems	`4516067 (Monthly Rollup) 4516064 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems	`4516067 (Monthly Rollup) 4516064 (Security Only)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes
Windows RT 8.1	`4516067 (Monthly Rollup)`	Critical	Remote Code Execution	Yes

Patches

9 patches

Article	Type	Restart
`4516070`	Security Update	Yes
`4516044`	Security Update	Yes
`4516068`	Security Update	Yes
`4516066`	Security Update	Yes
`4516058`	Security Update	Yes
`4512578`	Security Update	Yes
`4515384`	Security Update	Yes
`4516067 (Monthly Rollup) 4516064`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4516067`	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

Microsoft Platform Security Assurance & Vulnerability Research

References

MSRC Advisory MITRE NVD