CVE-2019-0797: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Is it exploited?
Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 3 Nov 2021, 939 days after the CVE record was published.
- How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?
- 1.9%
EPSS score, percentile 79.3 of all scored records
- How severe?
- 7.8 High
CVSS v3.1 base score, from CISA's enrichment of the record
- What should I do?
CISA deadline 3 May 2022. Apply updates per vendor instructions.
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
- Which versions are affected?
Affected
- 2012
- 2012 (Core installation)
- 2012 R2
- 2012 R2 (Core installation)
- 2016
- 2016 (Core installation)
and 16 more in the table below
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
What to do
Required action, set by CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA due date for this action: 3 May 2022.
Advisories and patches
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
Linked from CISA's catalog entry
Affected products and versions
As listed in the CVE record.
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | 2012 |
| Affected | 2012 (Core installation) |
| Affected | 2012 R2 |
| Affected | 2012 R2 (Core installation) |
| Affected | 2016 |
| Affected | 2016 (Core installation) |
| Affected | version 1709 (Core Installation) |
| Affected | version 1803 (Core Installation) |
| Affected | 2019 |
| Affected | 2019 (Core installation) |
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | 8.1 for 32-bit systems |
| Affected | 8.1 for x64-based systems |
| Affected | RT 8.1 |
| Affected | 10 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | 10 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems |
And 6 more version entries in the CVE record.
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
About this vulnerability
Microsoft Win32k contains a privilege escalation vulnerability when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute code in kernel mode.
Summary: CISA's KEV catalog, as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA added CVE-2019-0797 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 3 Nov 2021.
- CISA's ransomware flag for this entry is "Unknown": no evidence of ransomware use in the catalog, which is not proof of none.
- The due date CISA sets for the required action is 3 May 2022.
- The CVE record was published on 9 Apr 2019, 939 days before it was added to KEV.
- The CVE record carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (High), taken from CISA's enrichment of the record.
- FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.9% (percentile 79.3), as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka 'Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0808.
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 9 Apr 2019 | CVE record published |
| 3 Nov 2021 | Added to CISA KEV |
| 3 May 2022 | CISA due date for the required action |
| 21 Oct 2025 | CVE record last updated |
References
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