Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-28252

Memory Safety in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedPublic PoCRansomware-linkedMemory Safety
Published
11 April 2023
Modified
28 October 2025
KEV Added
11 April 2023
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.49 99th percentile
Risk Priority 83 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-28252 is a high-severity Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

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

The vulnerability CVE-2023-28252 is an elevation of privilege flaw in the Windows Common Log File System Driver (clfs.sys) stemming from a heap-based buffer overflow and out-of-bounds write, as indicated by the associated CWEs. It affects supported versions of Windows and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, reflecting local attack vector, low complexity, and low privileges required for successful exploitation with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

A local attacker with low-privileged access on an affected system can exploit the driver flaw to escalate privileges, potentially gaining full control over the target machine. Public exploit code has been posted to sites such as Packet Storm, confirming the technical feasibility of the attack.

Microsoft's advisory directs administrators to apply the security updates released on April 11, 2023, while CISA lists the CVE in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and requires federal agencies to remediate in accordance with Binding Operational Directive 22-01.

The vulnerability shows confirmed real-world exploitation, with an EPSS score that has reached a peak of 0.7018 and currently sits at 0.5998.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
11 April 2023

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
T1211 Exploitation for Stealth Stealth
Adversaries may exploit vulnerabilities to evade detection by hiding activity, suppressing logging, or operating within trusted or unmonitored components.
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-23376Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2023-36036Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2024-30051Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2022-41073Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2022-41128Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2022-41125Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2022-37969Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2022-24521Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507both on KEV
CVE-2024-38060Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2024-38051Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507

Affected Assets

microsoft
windows 10 1507
≤ 10.0.10240.19869
microsoft
windows 10 1607
≤ 10.0.14393.5850
microsoft
windows 10 1809
≤ 10.0.17763.4252
microsoft
windows 10 20h2
≤ 10.0.19042.2846
microsoft
windows 10 21h2
≤ 10.0.19044.2846
microsoft
windows 10 22h2
≤ 10.0.19045.2846
microsoft
windows 11 21h2
≤ 10.0.22000.1817
microsoft
windows 11 22h2
≤ 10.0.22621.1555
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

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.4.1

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.

addresses: CWE-787

Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.

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.

PR.PS-06 full match
prevents

Secure-development practices directly require bounds checking and safe memory handling that prevent heap overflows.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover heap-overflow flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Timely patching removes known heap-overflow instances after they exist.

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.

finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect heap overflows before release.

prevents

Secure development lifecycle mandates practices that reduce the likelihood of introducing heap overflows.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory APIs that mitigate heap overflows.

prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles include memory-safety and input-validation controls that address heap overflows.

prevents

Secure coding standards directly prescribe techniques (safe functions, bounds checks) that prevent heap-based buffer overflows.

prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References