CVE-2023-28080

SYSTEM code execution via DLL search-path hijacking

Published May 30, 2023 · Updated Jan 10, 2025

DLL hijacking in Dell PowerPath for Windows 7.0, 7.1, and 7.2 allows local users to execute code as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. A privileged PowerPath process searches an uncontrolled location for a required DLL and loads an attacker-supplied library; Dell has not identified the executable, DLL, or directory. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, placement of the library in the searched location, and user interaction, after which arbitrary code runs with SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL hijacking in Dell PowerPath for Windows 7.0, 7.1, and 7.2 allows local users to execute code as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. A privileged PowerPath process searches an uncontrolled location for a required DLL and loads an attacker-supplied library; Dell has not identified the executable, DLL, or directory. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, placement of the library in the searched location, and user interaction, after which arbitrary code runs with SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28080
Published
May 30, 2023
Updated
Jan 10, 2025
Vendor
Dell
Product
PowerPath
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 10, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.0, 7.1 & 7.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell · PowerPathversion=7.0, 7.1 & 7.2

Published CVSS scores

7.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.7DellCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/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

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL

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

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Your stack

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