CVE-2019-1166 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security weakness in Microsoft Windows allows attackers to bypass NTLM MIC protection, known as the 'Windows NTLM Tampering Vulnerability'.

Understanding CVE-2019-1166

What is CVE-2019-1166?

This vulnerability in Microsoft Windows enables attackers to bypass NTLM MIC protection, also referred to as the 'Windows NTLM Tampering Vulnerability'.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1166

This vulnerability allows an attacker acting as a man-in-the-middle to bypass NTLM MIC protection, compromising the integrity of messages.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1166

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Windows permits attackers to circumvent NTLM MIC protection, leading to potential message integrity compromise.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows: Versions 7, 8.1, RT 8.1, 10, and various updates are affected.
Windows Server: Versions 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, and related updates are impacted.
Windows 10 Version 1903 for 32-bit, x64-based, and ARM64-based Systems, and Windows Server, version 1903 are also affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to act as intermediaries and bypass NTLM MIC protection, compromising message integrity.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates provided by Microsoft promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.
Implement strong network encryption protocols.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to address security vulnerabilities.
Use multi-factor authentication to enhance security.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability.
Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest patches.