CVE-2023-28740

Local privilege escalation via uncontrolled search path

Published Nov 14, 2023 · Updated Oct 15, 2024

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel QAT drivers for Windows HW Version 2.0 before 2.0.4 allows local users to escalate privileges. Intel identifies an uncontrolled search-path element but has not published the affected file, load operation, or searched location. Low-privileged local access and user interaction are required; successful exploitation grants elevated privileges on the affected host.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel QAT drivers for Windows HW Version 2.0 before 2.0.4 allows local users to escalate privileges. Intel identifies an uncontrolled search-path element but has not published the affected file, load operation, or searched location. Low-privileged local access and user interaction are required; successful exploitation grants elevated privileges on the affected host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28740
Published
Nov 14, 2023
Updated
Oct 15, 2024
Vendor
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
Product
Intel QuickAssist Technology Drivers
Classifications
CWE-427, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 15, 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=0 <2.0.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. · Intel QuickAssist Technology Driversversion=0 <2.0.4
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. · Intel QuickAssist Technology (Intel QAT) Driver for Windowsversion=before version 2.0.4

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.7Intel CorporationCVSS: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.

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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
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

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Your stack

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