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Vulnerability · CVE-2019-0859

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Mar 17, 2019 · corrected/updated Jun 16, 2026 · Microsoft Win32k · evidence confidence very high

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.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2019-0859 is a high public vulnerability record for Microsoft Win32k. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether Microsoft Win32k is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: microsoft/windows 10 1507; microsoft/windows 10 1607; microsoft/windows 10 1703; microsoft/windows 10 1709. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 7.8, EPSS 4.2%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Confirmed in CISA KEV since Mar 17, 2019. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.

  • Patch and remediation

    Apply updates per vendor instructions. CISA due date May 3, 2022.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Technology hubs

Windows

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Apr 9, 2019 · Catalog

    Detected

    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.

  2. Nov 3, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. May 3, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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.

Affected

  • cpe microsoft/windows 10 1507version unspecified
  • cpe microsoft/windows 10 1607version unspecified
  • cpe microsoft/windows 10 1703version unspecified
  • cpe microsoft/windows 10 1709version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Win32kversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2019-0859

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

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2019-0859

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2019-0859

    30-day exploitation probability 4.2%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2019-0859

    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.

    nvd.nist.gov
  • VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2019-0859

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

    vulncheck.com

References