Link following in Microsoft Windows
Priority CRITICAL 93Exploited in the wildCWE-59Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC) improperly handles hard links, aka 'Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0730, CVE-2019-0731, CVE-2019-0796, CVE-2019-0805, CVE-2019-0836.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Active In CISA KEV since 2022-03-15CISA due date 2022-04-05Known ransomware use
EPSS 0.414 98th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by the CNA and NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Active
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows | 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Microsoft | Windows Server | version 1709 (Core Installation); version 1803 (Core Installation); 2019; 2019 (Core installation) | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Windows VendorMicrosoft Affected 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems; 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems; 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems; 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Windows Server VendorMicrosoft Affected version 1709 (Core Installation); version 1803 (Core Installation); 2019; 2019 (Core installation) Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1703:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1709:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1803:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:1803:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1803 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1703:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1709:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1803:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:1803:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1803 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2022-03-15 Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-0841
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wqq2-j7vf-7rw9
References
Exploit 2
Advisory 5
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152463/Microsoft-Windows-AppX-Deployment-Service-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-360/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153009/Internet-Explorer-JavaScript-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153114/Microsoft-Windows-AppX-Deployment-Service-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153215/Microsoft-Windows-AppX-Deployment-Service-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html
More Microsoft Windows 10 1703 vulnerabilities
- TI-2017-06077 Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Windows XP x64 XP2, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-00654 A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Graphics Device… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-06097 Improper input validation in Microsoft Windows 10 Servers KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-00765 A remote code execution vulnerability exists in "Microsoft COM for Windows" when it fails… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2017-06002 Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-06276 An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
Sources
- CVE-2019-0841 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-0841 · NVD
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wqq2-j7vf-7rw9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences