CVE-2022-44689: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7.8)

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Category

Elevation of Privilege

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2022-Dec

Released

2022-12-13

Last Updated

2023-01-24

EPSS Score

1.93% (percentile: 83.4%)

FAQ

What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability? An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.

Affected Products (23)

Windows

• Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
• Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H1 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H1 for 32-bit Systems
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 10 Version 20H2 for 32-bit Systems
• Windows 10 Version 20H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems

Open Source Software

• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2)

Security Updates (6)

• 5021237
• 5021233
• 5021249
• 5021234
• 5021255
• Release Notes

Acknowledgments

Microsoft Offensive Research & Security Engineering

Revision History

• 2022-12-13: Information published.
• 2023-01-24: Updated the build numbers. This is an informational update only.