CVE-2023-36434: Windows IIS Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
Critical (CVSS 9.8)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
2023-Oct
Released
2023-10-10
EPSS Score
2.93% (percentile: 86.4%)

FAQ

How could an attacker exploit this vulnerability? In a network-based attack, an attacker could brute force user account passwords to log in as that user. Microsoft encourages the use of strong passwords that are more difficult for an attacker to brute force. Why is the severity for this CVE rated as Important, but the CVSS score is 9.8? The Microsoft proprietary severity rating does not align with the CVSS scoring system. In this case, the severity rating of Important (rather than Critical) reflects the fact that brute-force attacks are unlikely to succeed against users with strong passwords. The CVSS scoring system doesn't allow for this type of nuance. What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability? The attacker would be able to login as another user successfully.

Affected Products (33)

Windows

  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows Server 2022
  • Windows 11 version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2019
  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 10 for x64-based Systems

ESU

  • Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2
  • Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)

Security Updates (15)

Acknowledgments

<a href="https://twitter.com/stwalker32">Steve Walker</a>

Revision History

  • 2023-10-10: Information published.