// For flags

CVE-2023-38146

Windows Themes Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Severity Score

8.8
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

2
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

Windows Themes Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Vulnerabilidad de Ejecución Remota de Código en Windows Themes

When an unpatched Windows 11 host loads a theme file referencing an msstyles file, Windows loads the msstyles file, and if that file's PACKME_VERSION is 999, it then attempts to load an accompanying dll file ending in _vrf.dll. Before loading that file, it verifies that the file is signed. It does this by opening the file for reading and verifying the signature before opening the file for execution. Because this action is performed in two discrete operations, it opens the procedure for a time of check to time of use vulnerability. By embedding a UNC file path to an SMB server we control, the SMB server can serve a legitimate, signed dll when queried for the read, but then serve a different file of the same name when the host intends to load/execute the dll.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2023-07-12 CVE Reserved
  • 2023-09-12 CVE Published
  • 2023-09-13 First Exploit
  • 2024-08-02 CVE Updated
  • 2024-09-18 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
CWE
  • CWE-367: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CAPEC
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 11 21h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 11 21h2"
< 10.0.22000.2416
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 11 21h2" and version " < 10.0.22000.2416"
-
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 11 22h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 11 22h2"
< 10.0.22621.2275
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 11 22h2" and version " < 10.0.22621.2275"
-
Affected