CVE-2019-1188
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Windows that could allow remote code execution if a .LNK file is processed.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (3.75%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Windows that could allow remote code execution if a .LNK file is processed. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. The attacker could present to the user a removable drive, or remote share, that contains a malicious .LNK file and an associated malicious binary. When the user opens this drive(or remote share) in Windows Explorer, or any other application that parses the .LNK file, the malicious binary will execute code of the attacker’s choice, on the target system. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the processing of shortcut LNK references.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 3.75% probability · 90th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-59
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 10 · microsoft/windows server 2016 · microsoft/windows server 2019
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 3.7% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-1188Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-1188Patch, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.