CVE-2019-25602: GSearch 1.0.1.0 DOS Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25602 Overview

CVE-2019-25602 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting GSearch version 1.0.1.0, a Windows application available through the Microsoft Store. The vulnerability allows local attackers to crash the application by inputting an excessively long string in the search bar. Specifically, attackers can paste a buffer of 2000 characters into the search field, click search, and select any result to trigger an application crash.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can reliably crash GSearch by exploiting improper input validation in the search functionality, causing denial of service to legitimate users.

Affected Products

• GSearch version 1.0.1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-22 - CVE-2019-25602 published to NVD
• 2026-03-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25602

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory boundaries when processing user input in the search bar functionality. The application fails to properly validate the length of input strings before processing them, leading to an improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer (CWE-1260).

When a user inputs a string exceeding approximately 2000 characters and then interacts with the search results, the application encounters an unhandled exception that causes the entire application to crash. This represents a classic buffer handling issue where the application does not enforce appropriate limits on input size.

The local attack vector requires user interaction, as the attacker must either have direct access to the application or convince a user to paste the malicious input. While this limits the scope of exploitation, it still represents a reliability concern for users of the application.

Root Cause

The root cause is CWE-1260: Improper Restriction of a Containing Memory Region by a Contained Memory Region. The GSearch application fails to properly validate and restrict the length of user-supplied input in the search field before processing it in memory operations. This allows an oversized input to overflow expected boundaries, triggering an application crash.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring either direct access to the machine running GSearch or social engineering to trick a user into pasting malicious input. The exploitation sequence involves:

1. Attacker crafts a string of approximately 2000 characters
2. The string is pasted into the GSearch search bar
3. The user clicks the search button to execute the search
4. The user selects any result from the search output
5. The application crashes due to the buffer overflow condition

The attack requires user interaction but has no privilege requirements, making it relatively straightforward to exploit once an attacker has access to a system running the vulnerable application.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25602

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected GSearch application crashes or terminations
• Windows Event Log entries indicating application faults in GSearch processes
• Clipboard history showing unusually long text strings being pasted

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for repeated GSearch application crashes using Windows Event Log
• Implement endpoint detection rules for abnormal process termination patterns
• Track application stability metrics to identify potential exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Windows Error Reporting to capture crash dumps for analysis
• Configure SentinelOne endpoint agents to monitor for process crash events
• Review application logs for patterns of repeated failures following user input

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25602

Immediate Actions Required

• Update GSearch to the latest available version if a patched release exists
• Consider uninstalling or replacing GSearch with alternative search utilities
• Restrict access to systems running vulnerable GSearch installations
• Educate users about the risks of pasting untrusted content into applications

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. Users should check the Microsoft Store Product page for updates. Additional technical details can be found in the Exploit-DB #47026 entry and the VulnCheck Denial of Service Advisory.

Workarounds

• Limit input length in the search field through local application restrictions if possible
• Use alternative search applications until a patch is available
• Implement endpoint protection to detect and alert on application crashes
• Restrict clipboard functionality on systems where GSearch is critical