CVE-2023-28260

Arbitrary code execution via unexpected runtime DLL

Published Apr 11, 2023 · Updated May 28, 2026

DLL hijacking in affected Microsoft .NET, PowerShell, and Visual Studio 2022 releases allows local users to execute arbitrary code. The Windows .NET runtime loads a runtime DLL from an unexpected location; Microsoft has not disclosed the loader function or precise search-order error. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and a crafted DLL at that location, and the resulting code runs in the affected application's context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.53%
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 affected Microsoft .NET, PowerShell, and Visual Studio 2022 releases allows local users to execute arbitrary code. The Windows .NET runtime loads a runtime DLL from an unexpected location; Microsoft has not disclosed the loader function or precise search-order error. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and a crafted DLL at that location, and the resulting code runs in the affected application's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28260
Published
Apr 11, 2023
Updated
May 28, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
.NET 6.0
Classifications
T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 28, 2026Record 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=6.0.0 <6.0.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · .NET 6.0version=6.0.0 <6.0.16
Microsoft · PowerShell 7.3version=7.3.0 <7.3.4
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.5version=17.5.0 <17.5.4
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4version=17.4.0 <17.4.7
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.0version=17.0.0 <17.0.21
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.2version=17.2.0 <17.2.15
Microsoft · .NET 7.0version=7.0.0 <7.0.5
Microsoft · PowerShell 7.2version=7.2.0 <7.2.11

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

T1574.002Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading

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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