CVE-2019-1438 — Windows Graphics Component Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Executive Summary

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows Graphics Component improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run processes in an elevated context. In a local attack scenario, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability by running a specially crafted application to take control over the affected system. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way in which the Microsoft Graphics Component handles objects in memory and preventing unintended elevation from user mode.

Overview

7

CVSS HIGH

Important

MS Severity

Not Exploited

MS Exploit Status

More Likely

MS Exploit Likelihood

Category Elevation of Privilege

Released Nov 12 2019

Last Updated Nov 12 2019

Publicly Disclosed No

CISA KEV Not Listed

Known Exploits None Known

EPSS Score 0.00827 — 0.52657 percentile

CVSS Vector

ATTACK VECTOR

Local

ATTACK COMPLEXITY

High

PRIVILEGES REQUIRED

Low

USER INTERACTION

None

SCOPE

Unchanged

Temporal Score: 6.3

EPSS Score

0.00827

probability of exploitation in the next 30 days

0.52657 percentile - updated 2026-06-20

View on FIRST.org

Affected Products

34 affected products

Product	KB Article	Severity	Impact	Restart Required
Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems	`4525232 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 for x64-based Systems	`4525232 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems	`4525236 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems	`4525236 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems	`4525241 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems	`4525241 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems	`4525241 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems	`4525237 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems	`4525237 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems	`4525237 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems	`4523205 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems	`4523205 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems	`4523205 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems	`4524570 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems	`4524570 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems	`4524570 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1	`4525235 (Monthly Rollup) 4525233 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1	`4525235 (Monthly Rollup) 4525233 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems	`4525243 (Monthly Rollup) 4525250 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems	`4525243 (Monthly Rollup) 4525250 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows RT 8.1	`4525243 (Monthly Rollup)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1	`4525235 (Monthly Rollup) 4525233 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1	`4525235 (Monthly Rollup) 4525233 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)	`4525235 (Monthly Rollup) 4525233 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2012	`4525246 (Monthly Rollup) 4525253 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)	`4525246 (Monthly Rollup) 4525253 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2012 R2	`4525243 (Monthly Rollup) 4525250 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)	`4525243 (Monthly Rollup) 4525250 (Security Only)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2016	`4525236 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)	`4525236 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2019	`4523205 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)	`4523205 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation)	`4525237 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes
Windows Server, version 1903 (Server Core installation)	`4524570 (Security Update)`	Important	Elevation of Privilege	Yes

Patches

10 patches

Article	Type	Restart
`4525232`	Security Update	Yes
`4525236`	Security Update	Yes
`4525241`	Security Update	Yes
`4525237`	Security Update	Yes
`4523205`	Security Update	Yes
`4524570`	Security Update	Yes
`4525235 (Monthly Rollup) 4525233`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4525243 (Monthly Rollup) 4525250`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4525243`	Monthly Rollup	Yes
`4525246 (Monthly Rollup) 4525253`	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

bee13oy of Qihoo 360 Vulcan Team

References

MSRC Advisory MITRE NVD