Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Windows flaw lets a signed-in, low-privileged attacker use a specially crafted application to gain elevated access to system files. Successful exploitation could enable complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It is especially urgent because CISA lists the vulnerability as known exploited.
Executive priority
Treat unpatched affected systems as an immediate remediation priority because exploitation is documented through CISA KEV. Require prompt patch verification and compensating controls for systems that cannot be updated. Fully patched or unaffected systems need confirmation and routine monitoring rather than emergency action.
Technical view
Windows AppX Deployment Extensions improperly manages privileges when handling file-system references, classified as CWE-59. Exploitation requires local access, low privileges, and no user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8, with high potential impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft corrected the privilege-management behavior in a security update.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to the listed Windows 10 releases from 1709 through 1903 and specified Windows Server 1803, 1903, and 2019 installations. Systems remain at risk if affected and missing Microsoft's relevant security update. The bundle provides no evidence that newer Windows releases are affected.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV inclusion supports that CVE-2019-1385 has been exploited in the wild. An attacker must already be authenticated and able to run a specially crafted local application. This is therefore primarily a privilege-escalation opportunity following initial access, not a remotely exploitable entry point.
Researcher notes
The vector is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. CWE-59 indicates improper link resolution before file access, but the supplied evidence does not establish the precise primitive or exploitation chain. Researchers should consult Microsoft's advisory and ZDI analysis for implementation details without assuming applicability beyond the listed versions.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Microsoft's security update for CVE-2019-1385 to every affected Windows system.
- Prioritize affected internet-facing servers and endpoints accessible to untrusted or compromised user accounts.
- Restrict execution of untrusted applications while remediation is pending.
- Retire or isolate affected operating-system releases that cannot receive applicable security updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows edition, version, architecture, and Server Core status against the affected list.
- Verify Microsoft's applicable security update is installed on each affected asset.
- Use authenticated vulnerability scanning to identify missing updates and reconcile results with asset inventory.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious local privilege escalation or unexpected access to protected system files.
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.
CWE-59: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-1385 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CISA KEV status
SSVC decision data
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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- Added to KEVCISA-ADP
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities metadata lists this CVE as known exploited.
- ADP timelineCISA-ADP
CVE-2019-1385 added to CISA KEV
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z: CVE-2019-1385 added to CISA KEV
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-1385CVE reference, microsoft · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-19-979/CVE reference, microsoft · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-1385CVE reference, CISA-ADP · government-resource
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.
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.