BlackTreeCVE Intelligence
← Back to the CVE catalogue
Full vulnerability report · 2022
CVE-2022-38028High confidence

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft · Windows

7.8HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2024-05-14 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityHighOperational priority:Critical, raised one band.upgradedsince 23 Apr 2024

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
  • EPSS is 14.95% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Microsoft Windows and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2022-40634

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 23 Apr 2024. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
7.8 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
2 linked advisory records
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2024-05-14 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler service contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker may modify a JavaScript constraints file and execute it with SYSTEM-level permissions.

What

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler service contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker may modify a JavaScript constraints file and execute it with SYSTEM-level permissions.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.

What

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler service contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker may modify a JavaScript constraints file and execute it with SYSTEM-level permissions.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2024-04-23.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → vulnerable operation → gain additional privileges
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration.
CWE not yet assigned
CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
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

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
Privilege escalationCISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2022-40634Known-exploited evidence recorded

Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Official EUVD record ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2022-1682Microsoft Windows und Microsoft Windows Server: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein entfernter, anonymer, authentisierter oder lokaler Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Microsoft Windows und Microsoft Windows Server ausnutzen, um seine Privilegien zu erhöhen, beliebigen Code auszuführen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen, einen Denial of Service Zustand herzustellen und Informationen falsch darzustellen.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20221012Security Bulletin 12 Oct 2022

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 12 Oct 2022, published on 12 October 2022. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2022-AVI-907Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Windows

octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38021 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38022 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38022 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38025 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38025 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38026 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38026 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38027 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38027 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38028 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38028 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38029 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38029 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38030 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38030 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38031 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38031 Bulletin de sécurité Microsoft CVE-2022-38032 du 11 octobre 2022 https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38032 Bulletin de sécurité Micr

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2022-002514複数の Microsoft Windows 製品における権限を昇格される脆弱性

複数の Microsoft Windows 製品には、Windows 印刷スプーラに不備があるため、権限を昇格される脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6171美 CISA 발표 주요 Exploit 정보공유(Update. 2024-04-23)

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler service contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker may modify a JavaScript constraints file and execute it with SYSTEM-level permissions.

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5744MS 10월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

한 상승 취약성 Windows Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Protocol CVE-2022-38036 IKE(Internet Key Exchange) 프로토콜 서비스 거부 취약성 Windows Workstation Service CVE-2022-38034 Windows 워크스테이션 서비스 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Server Remotely Accessible Registry Keys CVE-2022-38033 Windows Server 원격으로 액세스할 수 있는 레지스트리 키 정보 유출 취약성 Windows Portable Device Enumerator Service CVE-2022-38032 Windows 휴대용 장치 열거자 서비스 보안 기능 우회 취약성 Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL CVE-2022-38031 SQL Server용 Microsoft WDAC OLE DB 공급자 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Windows USB Serial Driver CVE-2022-38030 Windows USB 직렬 드라이버 정보 유출 취약성 Windows ALPC CVE-2022-38029 Windows ALPC 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Print Spooler Components CVE-2022-38028 Windows 인쇄 스풀러 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Storage CVE-2022-38027 Windows 저장소 권한 상승 취약성 Windows DHCP Client CVE-2022-38026 Windows DHCP 클라이언트 정보 유출 취약성 Windows Distributed File System (DFS) CVE-2022-38025 Windows DFS(분산 파일 시스템) 정보 유출 취약성 Windows Kernel CVE-2022-38022 Windows 커널 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Connected User Experiences and Telemetry CVE-2022-38021 연결된 사용자 환경 및 원격 분석 권한 상승 취약성 Azure CVE-2022-38017 StorSimple 8000 시리즈 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Local Security Authority (LSA) CVE-2022-38016 Windows LSA(로컬 보안 기관) 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) CVE-2022-38003 Windows 복원 파일 시스템 권한 상승 Microsoft Office CVE-2022-38001 Microsoft Office 스푸핑 취약성 Windows

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 11 Oct 2022 · Last source change 12 Jan 2026, 21:10 UTC · CWE not yet assigned

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2022-40634
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceUnavailable
NVD statusNVD enriched

Missing structured fields: CWE classification. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.3532; 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.3532; 10.0.0 < 10.0.19043.2130; 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.1129; 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.2130; 10.0.0 < 10.0.22000.1098 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    After
    Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.3532, 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.3532; Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.3532; Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation): 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.3532; Windows 10 Version 21H1: 10.0.0 < 10.0.19043.2130; Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.1129; Windows 10 Version 20H2: 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.2130; Windows 11 version 21H2: 10.0.0 < 10.0.22000.1098; Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19043.0 < 10.0.19044.2130; Windows 11 version 22H2: 10.0.22621.0 < 10.0.22621.674; Windows 10 Version 1507: 10.0.10240.0 < 10.0.10240.19507; Windows 10 Version 1607: 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.5427; Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.5427; Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation): 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.5427; Windows 8.1: 6.3.0 < 6.3.9600.20625; Windows Server 2012: 6.2.9200.0 < 6.2.9200.23920; Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation): 6.2.9200.0 < 6.2.9200.23920; Windows Server 2012 R2: 6.3.9600.0 < 6.3.9600.20625; Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation): 6.3.9600.0 < 6.3.9600.20625 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Added to CISA KEV
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2022-40634↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Patch or update reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2022-38028 · cve.blacktree.nl