CVE-2019-1252: Windows GDI memory disclosure leaks information

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 19 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

high priorityThe flaw is network-reachable with no privileges required and high confidentiality impact, and EPSS places it in the top percentile of predicted exploitation activity despite no KEV listing.

What it is

The Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI) component improperly discloses the contents of its memory, exposing data that should not be readable. This is a distinct issue from CVE-2019-1286 and affects a broad set of Windows client and server releases. Because GDI is a core rendering component, the flaw matters wherever untrusted content is rendered.

Impact

An attacker who triggers the flaw gains read access to memory contents, which can leak sensitive data such as pointers or other in-process information useful for further attacks. The CVSS vector rates confidentiality impact as high with no integrity or availability effect.

Attack surface

The vector is network-reachable (AV:N) with no privileges required (PR:N), but exploitation requires user interaction (UI:R), meaning a victim must open or view crafted content. No authentication is needed beyond that interaction.

Exploitation

CVE-2019-1252 is not listed in CISA KEV and has no documented ransomware use; EPSS gives it a 30-day probability of 0.60366 (99.1st percentile), indicating high predicted activity, though the only references are Microsoft patch advisories.

What to do

• Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2019-1252 on all affected Windows versions as the first action.
• Prioritize patching internet-facing and multi-user systems such as Remote Desktop and terminal servers.
• Restrict users from opening untrusted documents or visiting untrusted sites until patching completes.
• Track affected Windows 7, 8.1, RT 8.1, 10, Server 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019 assets against the vendor advisory.

Detection

• Monitor for crashes or abnormal behavior in GDI-related processes such as win32k and gdi32 following document or web content rendering.
• Hunt for processes reading unusual memory regions or spawning from document viewers and browsers after user interaction.
• Correlate endpoint telemetry for exploitation attempts against unpatched hosts using the Microsoft advisory as a baseline.

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