Microsoft Windows Defender CVE-2019-1161 Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows is prone to a privilege-escalation vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this issue to gain elevated privileges on the system.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection
• Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Endpoint Protection
• Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection
• Microsoft Windows Defender

Recommendations

Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To reduce the impact of latent vulnerabilities, always run nonadministrative software as an unprivileged user with minimal access rights.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity. This includes but is not limited to requests that include explained incoming and outgoing traffic. This may indicate exploit attempts to activity that results from successful exploits.

Updates are available. Please see the references or vendor advisory for more information.