CVE-2019-1214: Windows CLFS driver memory handling privilege escalation

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 17 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

high priorityIt is confirmed exploited in the wild per CISA KEV and yields full SYSTEM-level compromise, though it requires an existing local foothold rather than remote access.

What it is

The Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) driver improperly handles objects in memory, which Microsoft classifies as an elevation of privilege flaw and NVD maps to a memory buffer overflow (CWE-119). A local attacker who can run code on a vulnerable Windows host can use it to gain higher privileges, which matters because it turns limited access into SYSTEM-level control on a broad set of Windows client and server versions.

Impact

An attacker gains elevated privileges on the affected system, potentially reaching SYSTEM and enabling further actions such as disabling security controls or moving laterally. The CVSS vector rates confidentiality, integrity and availability impact as high.

Attack surface

Reached locally (AV:L) by an attacker who already has low privileges on the machine (PR:L), with no user interaction (UI:N) and low attack complexity (AC:L). No remote or network vector is described.

Exploitation

CVE-2019-1214 is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03), confirming exploitation in the wild; EPSS gives a 30-day probability of about 1.4 percent (71st percentile). CISA records no known ransomware campaign use.

What to do

• Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2019-1214 on all affected Windows client and server versions, prioritizing internet-facing and multi-user systems.
• Track remediation against the CISA KEV due date of 2022-05-03 and confirm patching through your vulnerability management process.
• Restrict local logon and interactive access so untrusted users cannot run code on sensitive hosts, reducing the prerequisite low-privilege foothold.
• Monitor for and remove unpatched legacy systems (for example Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008/2012) that may no longer receive updates.

Detection

• Alert on unexpected processes spawning with SYSTEM integrity from non-service parents, which can indicate local privilege escalation.
• Monitor for unusual access or manipulation of CLFS log files and the CLFS driver by non-system processes.
• Correlate local privilege escalation indicators with subsequent credential dumping, persistence or defense-evasion activity on the same host.
• Use EDR or Sysmon process-creation and token-change telemetry to flag processes that gain elevated tokens shortly after execution by a low-privileged user.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.