Security Resilience

CVE-2023-21708

Memory Safety in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2

Memory Safety
Published
14 March 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.015 74th percentile
Risk Priority 82 floored blend · peak EPSS

CVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.

Summary

CVE-2023-21708 is a critical-severity Wrap or Wraparound (CWE-191) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique LSASS Memory (T1003.001); ranked in the top 26% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2023-21708 is a remote code execution vulnerability in the Remote Procedure Call Runtime, assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, and no requirements for privileges or user interaction. The weakness is tracked under CWE-191 and was published on 14 March 2023.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can send specially crafted RPC messages to trigger the flaw, resulting in arbitrary code execution with full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Microsoft security advisories at the referenced update guide URL describe available patches and mitigation guidance for the vulnerability.

The associated EPSS score has remained flat at a peak of 0.1393 with no material increase after disclosure.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CWE(s)
CWE-191NVD-CWE-noinfo

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1003.001 LSASS Memory Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to access credential material stored in the process memory of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS).
attack.mitre.org →
T1003.003 NTDS Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to access or create a copy of the Active Directory domain database in order to steal credential information, as well as obtain other information about domain members such as devices, users, and access rights.
attack.mitre.org →
T1003.005 Cached Domain Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to access cached domain credentials used to allow authentication to occur in the event a domain controller is unavailable.
attack.mitre.org →
T1003.008 /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to dump the contents of <code>/etc/passwd</code> and <code>/etc/shadow</code> to enable offline password cracking.
attack.mitre.org →
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
attack.mitre.org →
T1008 Fallback Channels Command And Control
Adversaries may use fallback or alternate communication channels if the primary channel is compromised or inaccessible in order to maintain reliable command and control and to avoid data transfer thresholds.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-21684Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-24887Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-28272Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-28250Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-28293Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1607
CVE-2023-24864Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-32014Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-35387Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2023-24911Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1607
CVE-2024-38050Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507

Affected Assets

microsoft
windows 10 1507
≤ 10.0.10240.19805
microsoft
windows 10 1607
≤ 10.0.14393.5786
microsoft
windows 10 1809
≤ 10.0.17763.4131
microsoft
windows 10 20h2
≤ 10.0.19042.2728
microsoft
windows 10 21h2
≤ 10.0.19044.2728
microsoft
windows 10 22h2
≤ 10.0.19045.2728
microsoft
windows 11 21h2
≤ 10.0.22000.1696
microsoft
windows 11 22h2
≤ 10.0.22000.1413
microsoft
windows server 2008
all versions, r2
microsoft
windows server 2012
all versions, r2
+3 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

ID.RA-01 partial match
blocks

Vulnerability scanning and code analysis can surface underflow flaws after they are introduced.

PR.PS-02 partial match
blocks

Routine patching can remediate known underflow bugs once they are discovered in deployed software.

PR.PS-06 partial match
blocks

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent integer underflow defects via input validation, bounds checking, and static analysis.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.5.14 Information transfer partial match
removes
A.5.15 Access control partial match
removes
A.5.16 Identity management partial match
removes
A.5.17 Authentication information partial match
removes
A.5.18 Access rights partial match
removes
A.8.10 Information deletion partial match
removes

References