CVE-2023-36876

Local privilege escalation via RacTask link following

Published Aug 8, 2023 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 allows local users to elevate privileges through the RacTask component. RacTask follows a user-controlled link before file access, redirecting a privileged file operation; Microsoft has not disclosed the affected file or operation. A local, low-privileged account is required, and successful exploitation can modify protected data and interrupt service without exposing confidential data.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 allows local users to elevate privileges through the RacTask component. RacTask follows a user-controlled link before file access, redirecting a privileged file operation; Microsoft has not disclosed the affected file or operation. A local, low-privileged account is required, and successful exploitation can modify protected data and interrupt service without exposing confidential data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36876
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

  1. Aug 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26664

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26664
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26664

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')
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo