CVE-2023-36903

Local privilege escalation via improper link resolution

Published Aug 8, 2023 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows System Assessment Tool allows local users to elevate privileges to SYSTEM. Microsoft classifies the defect as link following before file access but does not identify the path, file, or WinSAT operation involved. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access; successful exploitation grants SYSTEM-level control of the affected host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.62%
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 System Assessment Tool allows local users to elevate privileges to SYSTEM. Microsoft classifies the defect as link following before file access but does not identify the path, file, or WinSAT operation involved. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access; successful exploitation grants SYSTEM-level control of the affected host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36903
Published
Aug 8, 2023
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
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=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.20107

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.20107
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6167
Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.22000.0 <10.0.22000.2295
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24414
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24414
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.3324
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6167
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
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.3324
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21503
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.2134
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6167
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.1906
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.4737; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21503

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8MicrosoftCVSS: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-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

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Your stack

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