CVE-2023-21685
Published: 14 February 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-21685 is a high-severity Improper Input Validation (CWE-20) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1809. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 7.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL Server contains a remote code execution vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-21685. The flaw is associated with CWE-20 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, no required privileges, and required user interaction. It affects the OLE DB provider component used by Windows Defender Application Control when connecting to SQL Server.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the issue by supplying specially crafted input that triggers code execution on the target system, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack requires the victim to interact with attacker-controlled content such as a malicious database connection string or document.
Microsoft has published an advisory at the MSRC update guide that addresses CVE-2023-21685 and provides remediation guidance for affected installations.
The associated EPSS score remains low, with a current value of 0.0762 and a peak of 0.0808, indicating limited observed exploitation interest since disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-25852
Vulnerability details
Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Security testing and developer training directly verify and enforce proper input validation, reducing exploitability of injection and malformed-data weaknesses.
Security testing and evaluation at multiple SDLC stages directly detects missing or flawed input validation, with the required remediation process ensuring fixes are applied.
Directly implements checks on information inputs to reject invalid data before processing.
Spam protection mechanisms perform filtering and detection on inbound/outbound messages, directly compensating for missing or weak input validation of unsolicited content.