CVE-2023-38154Public exploit

SYSTEM privilege escalation via partial hive recovery

Published Aug 8, 2023 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows kernel on affected Windows 10 and Server 2019 builds allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. Partial registry-hive log recovery can report success after applying only part of a log, leaving inconsistent hive state that corrupts kernel memory. Exploitation requires prior local low-privileged code execution; successful abuse grants complete control of the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows kernel on affected Windows 10 and Server 2019 builds allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. Partial registry-hive log recovery can report success after applying only part of a log, leaving inconsistent hive state that corrupts kernel memory. Exploitation requires prior local low-privileged code execution; successful abuse grants complete control of the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38154
Published
Aug 8, 2023
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2019
Classifications
CWE-122, 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=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.4737; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4737

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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