SYSTEM privilege escalation via untrusted pointer dereference
Published Nov 14, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. CKeyframeAnimation::SampleStartingValue dereferences an attacker-controlled CPathData pointer from a shared DirectComposition section, enabling a heap-address leak and code execution in dwm.exe. Low-privileged local access is required; the observed exploit crosses from the DWM account into LogonUI.exe and gains full machine control.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. CKeyframeAnimation::SampleStartingValue dereferences an attacker-controlled CPathData pointer from a shared DirectComposition section, enabling a heap-address leak and code execution in dwm.exe. Low-privileged local access is required; the observed exploit crosses from the DWM account into LogonUI.exe and gains full machine control.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-36033
- Published
- Nov 14, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-119, CWE-822, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 14, 2023Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry
- Nov 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 21, 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.5122
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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- In-the-wild CVE-2023-36033 exploit sampleweaponized · observed in use
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entryknown exploited catalog
- Google Project Zero in-the-wild exploit analysisreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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