CVE-2023-35342

Local privilege escalation via WIA trace-file link following

Published Jul 11, 2023 · Updated Jan 1, 2025

Link following in Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition allows local users to elevate privileges by redirecting its Wiatrace.log trace file. InitTraceFile opened the fixed log name without rejecting a link path; the patch added TrcLib::IsPathALink and file-handle metadata validation before CreateFileW. A low-privilege local user must construct the link chain before WIA accesses the log, after which its privileged file operation can modify protected file state.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

Link following in Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition allows local users to elevate privileges by redirecting its Wiatrace.log trace file. InitTraceFile opened the fixed log name without rejecting a link path; the patch added TrcLib::IsPathALink and file-handle metadata validation before CreateFileW. A low-privilege local user must construct the link chain before WIA accesses the log, after which its privileged file operation can modify protected file state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-35342
Published
Jul 11, 2023
Updated
Jan 1, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
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

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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=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.20048

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.20048
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4645
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6085
Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.2176
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24374
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24374
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19043.0 <10.0.19044.3208
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6085
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 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.3208
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21063
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4645
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.1992
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6085
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.1850
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.4645; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4645
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21063

Published CVSS scores

7.8MicrosoftCVSS: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 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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