CVE-2023-44220

Local command execution via startup DLL search

Published Oct 27, 2023 · Updated Sep 9, 2024

DLL search-order hijacking in SonicWall NetExtender for Windows 10.2.336 and earlier allows local users to execute commands. The startup DLL component searches for and loads a library without constraining the search path, allowing attacker-controlled code to be selected. Low privileges and user interaction are required; successful exploitation executes commands with the affected process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL search-order hijacking in SonicWall NetExtender for Windows 10.2.336 and earlier allows local users to execute commands. The startup DLL component searches for and loads a library without constraining the search path, allowing attacker-controlled code to be selected. Low privileges and user interaction are required; successful exploitation executes commands with the affected process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-44220
Published
Oct 27, 2023
Updated
Sep 9, 2024
Vendor
SonicWall
Product
NetExtender
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 9, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <10.2.336
  2. Affected versionversion=10.2.336 and earlier versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SonicWall · NetExtenderversion=0 <10.2.336; version=10.2.336 and earlier versions

Published CVSS scores

7.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.002DLL Side-Loading

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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