CVE-2022-37954

SYSTEM code execution via graphics object use-after-free

Published Sep 13, 2022 · Updated Mar 11, 2025

Use-after-free in the DirectX Graphics Kernel in Microsoft Windows allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The kernel operates on a graphics object without first validating that the object still exists. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the target and elevates that code into the SYSTEM security context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability44.90%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the DirectX Graphics Kernel in Microsoft Windows allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The kernel operates on a graphics object without first validating that the object still exists. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the target and elevates that code into the SYSTEM security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-37954
Published
Sep 13, 2022
Updated
Mar 11, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2019
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 13, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 11, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.3406

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.3406
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H1version=10.0.0 <10.0.19043.2006
Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.978
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19043.0 <10.0.19044.2006
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.2006
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.3406
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.1006
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.3406; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.3406

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo