CVE-2023-36743

SYSTEM privilege escalation via Win32k use-after-free

Published Oct 10, 2023 · Updated Apr 14, 2025

Use-after-free in Microsoft Windows Win32k allows local users with low privileges to gain SYSTEM privileges through local execution. Microsoft identifies the weakness as use-after-free but has not disclosed the affected Win32k object, function, or stale-reference operation. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged local code execution and no user interaction; success grants complete control at SYSTEM level.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Microsoft Windows Win32k allows local users with low privileges to gain SYSTEM privileges through local execution. Microsoft identifies the weakness as use-after-free but has not disclosed the affected Win32k object, function, or stale-reference operation. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged local code execution and no user interaction; success grants complete control at SYSTEM level.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36743
Published
Oct 10, 2023
Updated
Apr 14, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 10, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 14, 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 <10.0.10240.20232

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.20232
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4974
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6351
Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.2538
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24523
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24523
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19043.0 <10.0.19041.3570
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6351
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26769
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26769
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.3570
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21620
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4974
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.2428
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6351
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.22317
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.2031
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.4974; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4974
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21620
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.22317

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS: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 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-416Use After Free
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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