SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link DLL loading
Published May 18, 2022 · Updated Jan 2, 2025
Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows Print Spooler allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The service follows an attacker-created symbolic link and loads an arbitrary DLL without constraining the resolved path. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows host is required; successful exploitation runs the DLL as SYSTEM, enabling full host control.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows Print Spooler allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The service follows an attacker-created symbolic link and loads an arbitrary DLL without constraining the resolved path. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows host is required; successful exploitation runs the DLL as SYSTEM, enabling full host control.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-30138
- Published
- May 18, 2022
- Updated
- Jan 2, 2025
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows 10 Version 1507
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 18, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 2, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19297
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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