CVE-2023-32050

Privilege escalation via unsafe link resolution

Published Jul 11, 2023 · Updated Jan 1, 2025

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows Installer allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges through a crafted filesystem link. The installer resolves a filesystem link before privileged file access without safely binding the intended target, enabling redirection to an attacker-chosen target. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access; Microsoft has not disclosed the affected file, function, or exact trigger.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows Installer allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges through a crafted filesystem link. The installer resolves a filesystem link before privileged file access without safely binding the intended target, enabling redirection to an attacker-chosen target. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access; Microsoft has not disclosed the affected file, function, or exact trigger.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32050
Published
Jul 11, 2023
Updated
Jan 1, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 1, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26623

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26623
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26623
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.22175
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.22175

Published CVSS scores

7.0Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
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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