CVE-2023-35382
📋 TL;DR
This is a Windows kernel use-after-free vulnerability that allows local attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges. It affects Windows systems where an authenticated user can execute code. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation from a lower-privileged account to full system control.
💻 Affected Systems
- Microsoft Windows
📦 What is this software?
Windows 10 1809 by Microsoft
Windows 10 21h2 by Microsoft
Windows 10 22h2 by Microsoft
Windows 11 21h2 by Microsoft
Windows 11 22h2 by Microsoft
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with SYSTEM privileges, enabling installation of persistent malware, credential theft, and lateral movement across the network.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation allowing attackers to bypass security controls, install additional malware, or access sensitive system resources.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper endpoint protection, least privilege principles, and network segmentation are implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available. Exploitation requires local access and code execution privileges.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: July 2023 security updates (KB5028185 for Windows 10, KB5028182 for Windows 11, etc.)
Vendor Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-35382
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Apply July 2023 Windows security updates via Windows Update. 2. For enterprise environments, deploy updates through WSUS or SCCM. 3. Restart systems after patch installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local code execution
windowsImplement application whitelisting and restrict user permissions to prevent unauthorized code execution.
Enable exploit protection
windowsUse Windows Defender Exploit Guard to apply exploit mitigation settings.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict least privilege principles and restrict local administrator access
- Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with behavioral monitoring
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Windows version and compare with patched versions. Systems without July 2023 security updates are vulnerable.Check Version:
wmic os get caption,version,buildnumberVerify Fix Applied:
Verify KB5028185 (Windows 10) or KB5028182 (Windows 11) is installed via 'wmic qfe list' or 'Get-HotFix' in PowerShell.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Windows Security Event ID 4688 (process creation) showing privilege escalation patterns
- Sysmon Event ID 10 (process access) with suspicious access patterns
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from system processes
- Lateral movement attempts following local privilege escalation
SIEM Query:
EventID=4688 AND NewProcessName LIKE '%cmd.exe%' OR '%powershell.exe%' AND SubjectUserName!=SYSTEM AND TokenElevationType=%%1938