CVE-2019-1069
CVE-2019-1069 is a security flaw in Microsoft Task Scheduler. Attackers can run their own code on Microsoft Task Scheduler. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 15 Mar 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Microsoft Task Scheduler is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version publication.
Description
CISA calls it a privilege escalation in Microsoft Task Scheduler. In its words: “A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the way the Task Scheduler Service validates certain file operations.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way the Task Scheduler Service validates certain file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain elevated privileges on a victim system. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would require unprivileged code execution on a victim system. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correctly validating file operations.”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-59, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 Version 1703 | publication |
| Windows 10 Version 1803 | publication |
| Windows Server, version 1803 (Server Core Installation) | publication |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 | publication |
| Windows Server 2019 | publication |
| Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | publication |
| Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems | publication |
| Windows 10 Version 1709 | publication |
Most families won’t have Microsoft Task Scheduler; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 15 Mar 2022, 1,007 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 5 Apr 2022 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 6%. That’s in the top 7% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Microsoft has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Microsoft Task Scheduler is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version publication), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 5 Apr 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 6%.[4] |
See also
Other Microsoft flaws
- CVE-2026-96951, Microsoft Windows: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-85880, Microsoft Windows: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-81963, Microsoft Windows: link following ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2015-5287, Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2025-48384, Git: link following ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2020-5135, SonicWall SonicOS: buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2019-1405, Microsoft Windows: universal plug and play (UPnP) service privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2019-1322, Microsoft Windows: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2019-1315, Microsoft Windows: error reporting manager privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2019-1253, Microsoft Windows: appX deployment server privilege escalation ·
Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in March 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft Task Scheduler Privilege Escalation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 15 Mar 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2019-1069 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 12 Jun 2019.
- ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: msrc.microsoft.com, portal.msrc.microsoft.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.061, percentile 93.4, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2019-1069”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.