Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-1049 is a Windows GDI memory information disclosure issue. Successful exploitation could reveal memory contents that help an attacker further compromise a user’s system. It affects listed legacy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 systems. No active exploitation is cited in the provided sources.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority legacy Windows exposure. It is not cited as actively exploited, but it can leak sensitive memory information and may support later compromise. The business priority is confirming that old Windows 7 and Server 2008 systems are patched, isolated, or retired.
Technical view
Microsoft describes improper memory disclosure in Windows GDI object handling. The CVSS 3.1 vector is 4.7 with high confidentiality impact, high attack complexity, local attack vector, and low privileges required. Microsoft says crafted documents or untrusted webpages are possible exploitation paths and that the update corrects GDI memory object handling.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Windows 7, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2, or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 remain in use, including Server Core variants listed by Microsoft. Modern unsupported legacy estates may have higher operational risk if updates are missing.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV as false, so there is no cited evidence of active exploitation. Microsoft states users may be targeted through specially crafted documents or untrusted webpages. The CVSS temporal vector includes E:P, but the bundle does not provide exploit details or observed campaign evidence.
Researcher notes
Use the Microsoft affected-product list as the exposure boundary. The provided sources do not name specific KBs, indicators of compromise, exploit steps, or confirmed in-the-wild activity. Validation should focus on OS version, installed security update evidence, and whether legacy systems remain reachable by users handling documents or web content.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2019-1049 where applicable.
- Prioritize legacy Windows 7 and Server 2008/2008 R2 assets first.
- Limit exposure to untrusted documents and webpages until patch status is confirmed.
- Check current Microsoft guidance for update applicability and prerequisites.
- Retire or isolate legacy systems that cannot receive applicable security updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints and servers for the affected Windows versions listed by Microsoft.
- Confirm patch management records show the CVE-2019-1049 security update installed.
- Review vulnerability scanner findings for remaining CVE-2019-1049 detections.
- Validate high-risk legacy hosts have compensating controls if not patchable.
- Document any exceptions with asset owner, business need, and review date.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2019-1049 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C13.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Windows GDI Information Disclosure VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-1049CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.