CVE-2023-28270

Protected-session access via undisclosed lock-screen flaw

Published Apr 11, 2023 · Updated Jan 23, 2025

Security feature bypass in Microsoft Windows Lock Screen allows physically proximate attackers to access a protected session without authentication. Microsoft has not published the flawed component or the operation that incorrectly authorizes access from the lock screen. Physical access to a locked affected device is required; successful exploitation crosses the lock screen's access boundary.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Security feature bypass in Microsoft Windows Lock Screen allows physically proximate attackers to access a protected session without authentication. Microsoft has not published the flawed component or the operation that incorrectly authorizes access from the lock screen. Physical access to a locked affected device is required; successful exploitation crosses the lock screen's access boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28270
Published
Apr 11, 2023
Updated
Jan 23, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2019
Classifications
CWE-863
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 23, 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=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4252

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4252
Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.1817
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19043.0 <10.0.19044.2846
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.2846
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.2846
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4252
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.1555
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.1668
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.4252; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4252

Published CVSS scores

6.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization

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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