CVE-2023-7016Public exploit

SYSTEM code execution via MSI repair race

Published Feb 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 15, 2024

Privilege escalation in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client before 10.8 R10 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM on Windows. The MSI repair workflow stages a wac*.tmp executable in the caller's writable temporary directory and later runs it with elevated privileges, allowing a race to replace that file with attacker-controlled code. Local access and successful timing of the repair race are required; exploitation yields full SYSTEM-level control.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client before 10.8 R10 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM on Windows. The MSI repair workflow stages a wac*.tmp executable in the caller's writable temporary directory and later runs it with elevated privileges, allowing a race to replace that file with attacker-controlled code. Local access and successful timing of the repair race are required; exploitation yields full SYSTEM-level control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-7016
Published
Feb 27, 2024
Updated
Aug 15, 2024
Vendor
Thales Group
Product
SafeNet Authentication Client
Classifications
CWE-269, CAPEC-233, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 2024Record 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=0 <10.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Thales Group · SafeNet Authentication Clientversion=0 <10.8

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Thales PSIRTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
CAPEC-233Privilege Escalation
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo