Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2023-21820 is a high-severity Buffer Over-read (CWE-126) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 7.4 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Protocol or Service Impersonation (T1001.003); ranked at the 49th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); 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.
Windows Distributed File System (DFS) contains a remote code execution vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-21820. The flaw affects the Windows DFS component and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.4 with the vector AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, along with the weakness classification CWE-126.
An attacker positioned on an adjacent network who possesses low privileges and can induce limited user interaction may exploit the issue to execute arbitrary code, resulting in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected system.
Microsoft’s Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21820 supplies official mitigation guidance and patch information for the vulnerability.
The associated EPSS score remains flat at 0.0616 with no material increase observed after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-25986
Vulnerability Data
Windows Distributed File System (DFS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
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.
Vulnerability identification processes can discover buffer over-read flaws via scanning or review.
Patching or replacing vulnerable software removes known instances of buffer over-read bugs.
Secure development practices directly prevent introduction of buffer over-read weaknesses.
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.