CVE-2023-36399

Local privilege escalation via improper link resolution

Published Nov 14, 2023 · Updated Oct 8, 2025

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 allows local users to elevate privileges through crafted links. Windows Storage resolves an attacker-controlled link before file access, allowing a privileged operation to reach an unintended file; Microsoft has not identified the specific function or file operation. A low-privileged local account is required, and successful exploitation grants elevated rights with the ability to modify data or interrupt service.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability8.34%
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 11 and Windows Server 2022 allows local users to elevate privileges through crafted links. Windows Storage resolves an attacker-controlled link before file access, allowing a privileged operation to reach an unintended file; Microsoft has not identified the specific function or file operation. A low-privileged local account is required, and successful exploitation grants elevated rights with the ability to modify data or interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36399
Published
Nov 14, 2023
Updated
Oct 8, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 11 version 21H2
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-76, CAPEC-35, CAPEC-132, CAPEC-17, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 8, 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=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.2600

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.2600
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)version=10.0.25398.0 <10.0.25398.531
Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 22H3version=10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.2715
Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 23H2version=10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.2715
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.2715
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.2113

Published CVSS scores

7.1Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 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-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-76Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
CAPEC-35Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
CAPEC-132Symlink Attack
CAPEC-17Using Malicious Files
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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