Limited SYSTEM privileges via improper link resolution
Published Aug 8, 2023 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Link following in Microsoft RACEng on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Server Core allows local users to gain limited SYSTEM privileges. RACEng resolves an attacker-controlled filesystem link before privileged file access, redirecting that access; Microsoft has not disclosed the affected function or whether the operation reads or writes. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and yields specific limited SYSTEM privileges rather than unrestricted SYSTEM authority.
Summary
What happened
Link following in Microsoft RACEng on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Server Core allows local users to gain limited SYSTEM privileges. RACEng resolves an attacker-controlled filesystem link before privileged file access, redirecting that access; Microsoft has not disclosed the affected function or whether the operation reads or writes. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and yields specific limited SYSTEM privileges rather than unrestricted SYSTEM authority.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-35379
- Published
- Aug 8, 2023
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
- Classifications
- CWE-59, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 10, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26664
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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