CVE-2023-20598Public exploit

SYSTEM execution via unrestricted kernel-driver IOCTLs

Published Oct 17, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper privilege management in AMD Radeon Graphics drivers on Windows allows local users to execute kernel code through crafted IOCTLs. The short-lived pdfwkrnl.sys driver exposes device-control paths that give low-integrity processes arbitrary port, physical-memory, and virtual-memory access without adequate device access controls. Local access is required, and token manipulation grants SYSTEM-level execution during the brief interval in which the driver runs.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper privilege management in AMD Radeon Graphics drivers on Windows allows local users to execute kernel code through crafted IOCTLs. The short-lived pdfwkrnl.sys driver exposes device-control paths that give low-integrity processes arbitrary port, physical-memory, and virtual-memory access without adequate device access controls. Local access is required, and token manipulation grants SYSTEM-level execution during the brief interval in which the driver runs.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20598
Published
Oct 17, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
AMD
Product
AMD Ryzen 7035 Series Processors with Radeon Graphics (Rembrandt-R)
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=various

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

AMD · AMD Ryzen 7035 Series Processors with Radeon Graphics (Rembrandt-R)version=various
AMD · Ryzen 6000 Series Processors with Radeon Graphicsversion=various
AMD · AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series Graphics Cardsversion=various
AMD · AMD Ryzen 5 7645HXversion=0 <*
AMD · AMD Radeon RX 5000 Series Graphics Cardsversion=various
AMD · Ryzen 7000 Series Processors with Radeon Graphicsversion=various
AMD · AMD Radeon PRO W5000 Series Graphics Cardsversion=Various
AMD · AMD Ryzen 7045 Series Processors with Radeon Graphicsversion=various
AMD · AMD Radeon PRO W6000 Series Graphics Cardsversion=various
AMD · AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series Graphics Cardsversion=various
AMD · Ryzen 7020 Series Processors with Radeon Graphicsversion=various
AMD · Ryzen 7040 Series Processors with Radeon Graphicsversion=various
AMD · AMD Radeon RX 5300 XTversion=0 <=*
AMD · AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945version=0 <*
AMD · AMD Radeon PRO W7000 Series Graphics Cardsversion=various

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA ADPCVSS: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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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