Microsoft Windows LNK CVE-2019-1188 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. Successful exploits will allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system. Failed attacks may cause denial of service conditions.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for ARM64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803 for ARM64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for ARM64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 version 1709 for 32-bit Systems
• Microsoft Windows 10 version 1709 for x64-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Server 1803
• Microsoft Windows Server 1903
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019

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 suspicious or anomalous activity. This may help detect malicious actions that an attacker may take after successfully exploiting vulnerabilities in applications. Review all applicable logs regularly.

Do not use client software to access unknown or untrusted hosts from critical systems.
Due to the nature of this issue, avoid using the client application to connect to unknown or untrusted hosts.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Since this issue may be leveraged to execute code, we recommend memory-protection schemes, such as nonexecutable stack/heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments. This tactic may complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.

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