CVE-2023-40352

Local SYSTEM code execution via unsecured OpenSSL configuration

Published Aug 21, 2023 · Updated Oct 4, 2024

Local privilege escalation in McAfee Safe Connect before 2.16.1.126 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. Its OpenSSL configuration loads a configuration file from an unsecured location, enabling attacker-controlled DLL loading. Exploitation requires the ability to execute low-privileged code on an affected Windows system; the malicious DLL then runs as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability0.67%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in McAfee Safe Connect before 2.16.1.126 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. Its OpenSSL configuration loads a configuration file from an unsecured location, enabling attacker-controlled DLL loading. Exploitation requires the ability to execute low-privileged code on an affected Windows system; the malicious DLL then runs as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40352
Published
Aug 21, 2023
Updated
Oct 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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