CVE-2019-19697Public exploit

Administrator-to-SYSTEM escalation via debugger registry key

Published Jan 17, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Trend Micro Security (Consumer) 2019 (v15) arbitrary code execution allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges via a crafted registry debugger entry. The Image File Execution Options debugger for PtWatchdog.exe launches an attacker executable as SYSTEM, bypassing protection on coreServiceShell.exe and related services. Administrator privileges are required, and successful exploitation can disable or prevent protected security services from starting.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.82%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Trend Micro Security (Consumer) 2019 (v15) arbitrary code execution allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges via a crafted registry debugger entry. The Image File Execution Options debugger for PtWatchdog.exe launches an attacker executable as SYSTEM, bypassing protection on coreServiceShell.exe and related services. Administrator privileges are required, and successful exploitation can disable or prevent protected security services from starting.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-19697
Published
Jan 17, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Security (Consumer)
Classifications
CWE-269, T1546.012
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 17, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2019 (v15)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Security (Consumer)version=2019 (v15)

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1546.012Image File Execution Options Injection

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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