CVE-2023-29336KEV · OVERDUECWE-416

Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

High · published May 9, 2023

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 7.8. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 98.7th percentile for exploit probability.

1243
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
41%
Percentile
98.7
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

⚡ A crafty maneuver in Win32k could let attackers elevate privileges with a single exploit! 🔥 Think of it like a VIP pass that lets someone gain access to restricted areas of a concert — once they have that access, they can do whatever they want backstage! An attacker with this privilege escalation vulnerability could gain complete control over the system, allowing them to install malicious software, steal sensitive data, or even disrupt critical services. This could lead to an absolute disaster for organizations and individuals alike, making it vital to address promptly!

Put simply

Think of it like a VIP pass that lets someone gain access to restricted areas of a concert — once they have that access, they can do whatever they want backstage! This vulnerability in Win32k arises from improper handling of objects in memory, which enables an attacker to escalate privileges on a compromised system.

What to do

An attacker with this privilege escalation vulnerability could gain complete control over the system, allowing them to install malicious software, steal sensitive data, or even disrupt critical services. This could lead to an absolute disaster for organizations and individuals alike, making it vital to address promptly! Make sure to apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to address this vulnerability immediately. Regularly review and monitor user permissions to catch any unauthorized changes. It's also a great time to reinforce your security posture with additional monitoring tools! You've got this! By taking these steps, you can protect your system and keep your digital realm secure! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.41185 · 98.7th percentile
Weakness
CWE-416 · Use After Free
Published
2023-05-09T17:03Z
KEV added
2023-05-09 · due 2023-05-30
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 09 MAY 17:03Z
    Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
    cvelistv5
  • 09 MAY 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by May 30
    kev