// For flags

CVE-2023-21542

Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Severity Score

7.0
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track*
*SSVC
Descriptions

Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Vulnerabilidad de elevaciĆ³n de privilegios del instalador de Windows

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the Windows Installer service. By creating a junction, an attacker can abuse the service to create files in an arbitrary folder. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM.

*Credits: QueryX Team of Theori
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track*
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2022-12-01 CVE Reserved
  • 2023-01-10 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-02 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-09-30 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
  • CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management
  • CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CAPEC
References (1)
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10 1607
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10 1607"
-x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10 1607
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10 1607"
-x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 7
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 7"
-sp1, x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 7
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 7"
-sp1, x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 8.1
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 8.1"
-x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 8.1
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 8.1"
-x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Rt 8.1
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Rt 8.1"
--
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2008
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2008"
-sp2, x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2008
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2008"
-sp2, x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2008
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2008"
r2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2008" and version "r2"
sp1, x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2012
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2012"
--
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2012
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2012"
r2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2012" and version "r2"
-
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2016
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2016"
--
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2019
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2019"
--
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2022
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2022"
--
Affected