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Full vulnerability report · 2023
CVE-2023-36884High confidence

Microsoft Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Microsoft · Windows

7.5HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2023-08-29 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 17 Jul 2023

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • EPSS is 98.93% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
  • 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-2023-40804

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 17 Jul 2023. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
7.5 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
4 linked advisory records
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2023-08-29 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

Microsoft Windows Search contains an unspecified vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file, leading to remote code execution.

What

Microsoft Windows Search contains an unspecified vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file, leading to remote code execution.

Why

The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

What

Microsoft Windows Search contains an unspecified vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file, leading to remote code execution.

Why

The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

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 2023-07-17. Known ransomware campaign use is recorded.

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
a network path → Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') → execute code or commands in the affected security context
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
Required interaction required
Attack complexity
High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-362 ↗

CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition'). The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C

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

AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.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
After compromise, an attacker may use built-in shells, scripting engines, scheduled tasks and native network utilities for discovery, persistence or movement. This is a plausible LoTL path, not evidence that it has occurred for every attack.
NetworkUnauthenticatedRemote code executionCWE-362CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

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

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-40804Known-exploited evidence recorded

Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Official EUVD record ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-1718Microsoft Windows: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in verschiedenen Versionen von Microsoft Windows und Microsoft Windows Server ausnutzen, um seine Privilegien zu erweitern, beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, Informationen offenzulegen, Dateien zu manipulieren, Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen oder einen Denial of Service Zustand herbeizuführen.

Official advisory ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-2031Xerox FreeFlow Print Server: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Xerox FreeFlow Print Server ausnutzen, um die Vertraulichkeit, Verfügbarkeit und Integrität des Systems zu gefährden.

Official advisory ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2023-1720Microsoft Office: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in verschiedenen Microsoft Office Produkten ausnutzen, um seine Privilegien zu erweitern, beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, Informationen offenzulegen, Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen oder Dateien zu manipulieren.

Official advisory ↗
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · English · AV23-470Microsoft security advisory – August 2023 monthly rollup (AV23-470)

On August 8, 2023, Microsoft published security updates to address vulnerabilities in multiple products. Included were critical updates for the following: Microsoft has indicated that CVE-2023-36884 and CVE-2023-38180 have been exploited.

Official advisory ↗
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · English · AV23-394Microsoft security advisory – July 2023 monthly rollup (AV23-394)

On July 11, 2023, Microsoft published security updates to address vulnerabilities in multiple products. Included were critical updates for the following: Microsoft has indicated that CVE-2023-24932, CVE-2023-32046, CVE-2023-32049, CVE-2023-35311, CVE-2023-36874 and CVE-2023-36884 have been exploited.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20230712Security Bulletin 12 Jul 2023

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 12 Jul 2023, published on 12 July 2023. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2023-002456複数の Microsoft 製品におけるリモートでコードを実行される脆弱性

複数の Microsoft 製品には、リモートでコードを実行される脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6041MS 11월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

one: CVE-2023-38039 HTTP 헤더가 모든 메모리 소모 | | Windows Message Queuing | CVE-2023-36913 | Microsoft 메시지 큐 정보 유출 취약성 | | Role: Windows Hyper-V | CVE-2023-36908 | Windows Hyper-V 정보 유출 취약성 | | Windows Cryptographic Services | CVE-2023-36907 | Windows 암호화 서비스 정보 공개 취약성 | | Windows Cryptographic Services | CVE-2023-36906 | Windows 암호화 서비스 정보 공개 취약성 | | Windows Wireless Wide Area Network Service | CVE-2023-36905 | Windows WwanSvc(Wireless Wide Area Network Service) 정보 공개 취약성 | | ASP.NET | CVE-2023-36899 | ASP.NET 권한 상승 취약성 | | Microsoft Dynamics | CVE-2023-36886 | Microsoft Dynamics 365(온-프레미스) 교차-사이트 스크립팅 취약성 | | Microsoft Windows Search Component | CVE-2023-36884 | Windows Search 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | .NET Framework | CVE-2023-36873 | .NET Framework 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Dynamics Finance & Operations | CVE-2023-36800 | Dynamics 금융 및 운영 교차-사이트 스크립팅 취약성 | | .NET Core & Visual Studio | CVE-2023-36799 | .NET Core 및 Visual Studio 서비스 거부 취약성 | | .NET and Visual Studio | CVE-2023-36796 | Visual Studio 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | .NET and Visual Studio | CVE-2023-36794 | Visual Studio 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | .NET and Visual Studio | CVE-2023-36793 | Visual Studio 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | .NET and Visual Studio | CVE-2023-36792 | Visual Studio 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | .NET Framework | CVE-2023-36788 | .NET Framework 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Microsoft Offi

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5987MS 9월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

Outlook 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36894 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 정보 유출 취약성 | | Microsoft Office Outlook | CVE-2023-36893 | Microsoft Outlook 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36892 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36891 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36890 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 정보 유출 취약성 | | Windows Group Policy | CVE-2023-36889 | Windows 그룹 정책 보안 기능 바이패스 취약성 | | Microsoft Dynamics | CVE-2023-36886 | Microsoft Dynamics 365(온-프레미스) 교차-사이트 스크립팅 취약성 | | Microsoft Windows Search Component | CVE-2023-36884 | Windows Search 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL | CVE-2023-36882 | SQL Server용 Microsoft WDAC OLE DB 공급자 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Azure HDInsights | CVE-2023-36881 | Azure Apache Ambari 스푸핑 취약성 | | Azure HDInsights | CVE-2023-36877 | Azure Apache Oozie 스푸핑 취약성 | | Reliability Analysis Metrics Calculation Engine | CVE-2023-36876 | RacTask(Reliability Analysis Metrics Calculation) 권한 상승 취약성 | | .NET Framework | CVE-2023-36873 | .NET Framework 스푸핑 취약성 | | Azure DevOps | CVE-2023-36869 | Azure DevOps Server 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office Visio | CVE-2023-36866 | Microsoft Office Visio 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Microsoft Office Visio | CVE-

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5970MS 8월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

취약성 | | Microsoft Office Outlook | CVE-2023-36893 | Microsoft Outlook 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36892 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36891 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft Office SharePoint | CVE-2023-36890 | Microsoft SharePoint Server 정보 유출 취약성 | | Windows Group Policy | CVE-2023-36889 | Windows 그룹 정책 보안 기능 바이패스 취약성 | | Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) | CVE-2023-36888 | Android용 Microsoft Edge(Chromium 기반) 변조 취약성 | | Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) | CVE-2023-36887 | Microsoft Edge(Chromium 기반) 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Microsoft Windows Search Component | CVE-2023-36884 | Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability | | Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) | CVE-2023-36883 | iOS용 Microsoft Edge 스푸핑 취약성 | | Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL | CVE-2023-36882 | SQL Server용 Microsoft WDAC OLE DB 공급자 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Azure HDInsights | CVE-2023-36881 | Azure Apache Ambari 스푸핑 취약성 | | Azure HDInsights | CVE-2023-36877 | Azure Apache Oozie 스푸핑 취약성 | | Reliability Analysis Metrics Calculation Engine | CVE-2023-36876 | RacTask(Reliability Analysis Metrics Calculation) 권한 상승 취약성 | | .NET Framework | CVE-2023-36873 | .NET Framework 스푸핑 취약성 | | Azure DevOps | CVE-2023-36869 | Azure DevOps Server 스푸핑 취약성 | | Micro

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5951MS 7월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

Office | 중요 | 원격 코드 실행 | | Microsoft SharePoint | 긴급 | 원격 코드 실행 | | Microsoft .NET | 중요 | 보안 기능 바이패스 | | Microsoft Visual Studio | 중요 | 권한 상승 | | Microsoft Dynamics 365 | 중요 | 스푸핑 | | Microsoft Azure 관련 소프트웨어 | 중요 | 정보 공개 | | Windows Admin Center | 중요 | 스푸핑 | | Windows Malware Protection Engine | 중요 | 권한 상승 | [참고 사이트 ] [1] (한글) https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/ko-kr/security-guidance [2] (영문) https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-us/security-guidance [3] https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/releaseNote/2023-Jul [4] https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide o 취약점 요약 정보 | 제품 카테고리 | CVE 번호 | CVE 제목 | | --- | --- | --- | | Microsoft Office | CVE-2023-36884 | Office and Windows HTML Remote Code Execution Vulnerability | | Windows Error Reporting | CVE-2023-36874 | Windows 오류 보고 서비스 권한 상승 취약성 | | Microsoft Windows Codecs Library | CVE-2023-36872 | VP9 비디오 확장 정보 유출 취약성 | | Azure Active Directory | CVE-2023-36871 | Azure Active Directory 보안 기능 바이패스 취약성 | | Service Fabric | CVE-2023-36868 | Azure Service Fabric on Windows 정보 공개 취약성 | | Visual Studio Code | CVE-2023-36867 | Visual Studio Code GitHub 끌어오기 요청 및 문제 확장 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Paint 3D | CVE-2023-35374 | Paint 3D 원격 코드 실행 취약성 | | Mono Authenticode | CVE-2023-35373 | Mono Authenticode 유효성 검사 스푸핑 취약성 | | Windows Routing and Remote Access Service

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. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 11 Jul 2023 · Last source change 10 Aug 2026, 15:11 UTC · CWE-362 · Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')

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-2023-40804
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceOther authority
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    10.0.10240.0 < 10.0.10240.20107; 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.6167; 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4737; 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.4737; 10.0.19044.0 < 10.0.19044.3324; 10.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.3324; 10.0.22000.0 < 10.0.22000.2295; 10.0.22621.0 < 10.0.22621.2134 · 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 1507: 10.0.10240.0 < 10.0.10240.20107; Windows 10 Version 1607: 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.6167; Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4737, 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.4737; Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 < 10.0.19044.3324; Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.3324; Windows 11 version 21H2: 10.0.22000.0 < 10.0.22000.2295; Windows 11 version 22H2: 10.0.22621.0 < 10.0.22621.2134; Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: 6.0.6003.0 < 6.0.6003.22216; Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: 6.1.7601.0 < 6.1.7601.26664; Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation): 6.1.7601.0 < 6.1.7601.26664; Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: 6.0.6003.0 < 6.0.6003.22216; Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation): 6.0.6003.0 < 6.0.6003.22216; Windows Server 2012: 6.2.9200.0 < 6.2.9200.24414; Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation): 6.2.9200.0 < 6.2.9200.24414; Windows Server 2012 R2: 6.3.9600.0 < 6.3.9600.21503; Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation): 6.3.9600.0 < 6.3.9600.21503; Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.6167; Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation): 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.6167; Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4737; Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation): 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4737; Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.1906 · 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-2023-40804↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor 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-2023-36884 · cve.blacktree.nl