Kernel-memory disclosure via uninitialized registry buffer
Published Sep 12, 2023 · Updated Oct 30, 2025
Information disclosure in the Windows kernel across affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server builds allows local users to read kernel memory. The VrpPostEnumerateKey registry callback allocates a paged-pool buffer from a user-controlled length, fills only the returned data, then copies the entire buffer to user mode, exposing uninitialized bytes. A nonadministrator authenticated account can trigger the registry operation locally; the disclosed content is limited to uninitialized kernel memory, with no reported write or service-interruption impact.
Summary
What happened
Information disclosure in the Windows kernel across affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server builds allows local users to read kernel memory. The VrpPostEnumerateKey registry callback allocates a paged-pool buffer from a user-controlled length, fills only the returned data, then copies the entire buffer to user mode, exposing uninitialized bytes. A nonadministrator authenticated account can trigger the registry operation locally; the disclosed content is limited to uninitialized kernel memory, with no reported write or service-interruption impact.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-38140
- Published
- Sep 12, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 30, 2025
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-908
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 30, 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 <10.0.17763.4851
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
- Microsoft Windows Kernel Paged Pool Memory Disclosure Proof of Conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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