CVE-2023-38162Network attack vector

Unauthenticated service crash via DHCP failover underflow

Published Sep 12, 2023 · Updated Oct 30, 2025

Integer underflow in Microsoft Windows DHCP Server allows remote attackers to crash the service with crafted DHCP failover traffic. The failover packet-processing path subtracts an attacker-controlled value without preventing integer wraparound, leading to memory corruption and abnormal service termination. Only servers configured for DHCP failover are exposed; the documented consequence is interruption of DHCP service, not data access or modification.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability10.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Integer underflow in Microsoft Windows DHCP Server allows remote attackers to crash the service with crafted DHCP failover traffic. The failover packet-processing path subtracts an attacker-controlled value without preventing integer wraparound, leading to memory corruption and abnormal service termination. Only servers configured for DHCP failover are exposed; the documented consequence is interruption of DHCP service, not data access or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38162
Published
Sep 12, 2023
Updated
Oct 30, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2019
Classifications
CWE-191, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4851

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4851
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6252
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24462
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.24462
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.6252
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21563
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.4851
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.1970
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.21563

Published CVSS scores

6.5MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
7.5MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-191Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound)
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

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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