Fortinet Discovers Microsoft Windows JET Database Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Summary

Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs has discovered a remote code execution vulnerability in the Microsoft JET Database Engine.

The Microsoft JET Database Engine is a database engine on which several Microsoft products have been built. A database engine is the underlying component of a database, a collection of information stored on a computer in a systematic way.

The vulnerability in the Microsoft JET Database Engine could allow remote code execution on an affected system. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take control of the victim system. To exploit the vulnerability, a user must open a specially crafted file while using an affected version of Microsoft Windows.

Solutions

FortiGuard Labs released the following FortiGate IPS signature which covers this specific vulnerability:

MS.JET.Database.Engine.Msp.Code.Execution
Released Mar 11, 2019

Users should apply the solution provided by Microsoft.

Timeline

Fortinet reported the vulnerability to Microsoft on January 9, 2019.

Microsoft confirmed the vulnerability on January 12, 2019.

Microsoft released patch for the vulnerability on April 9, 2019.

Acknowledgement

This vulnerability was discovered by Honggang Ren of Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs.

References

• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2019-0851
• CVE-2019-0851

IPS Subscription

Fortinet customers who subscribe to Fortinet's intrusion prevention (IPS) service should be protected against this vulnerability with the appropriate configuration parameters in place. Fortinet's IPS service is one component of FortiGuard Subscription Services, which also offer comprehensive solutions such as antivirus, Web content filtering and antispam capabilities. These services enable protection against threats on both application and network layers. FortiGuard Services are continuously updated by FortiGuard Labs, which enables Fortinet to deliver a combination of multi-layered security intelligence and true zero-day protection from new and emerging threats. These updates are delivered to all FortiGate, FortiMail and FortiClient products. Fortinet strictly follows responsible disclosure guidelines to ensure optimum protection during a threat's lifecycle.