CVE-2023-32020
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:LSummary
CVE-2023-32020 is a medium-severity Reliance on Reverse DNS Resolution for a Security-Critical Action (CWE-350) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 5.6 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 48th 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.
CVE-2023-32020 is a DNS spoofing vulnerability affecting the Windows DNS component. It carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.6 and is associated with CWE-350, reflecting improper reliance on DNS for security decisions.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the flaw over the network without user interaction, though the attack requires high complexity. Successful exploitation allows limited impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability by spoofing DNS responses.
Microsoft has published an advisory for CVE-2023-32020 that includes patch availability and mitigation guidance; practitioners should consult the MSRC update guide for remediation steps specific to affected Windows versions.
The EPSS score rose from a low starting point to a peak of 0.0762 on 2025-01-22 before receding to the current value of 0.0119, indicating that exploitation interest emerged after disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-36307
Vulnerability Data
Windows DNS Spoofing 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.
Strong authentication of users/services/hardware directly prevents security decisions based on unauthenticated reverse DNS.
Monitoring DNS services can detect adverse events stemming from unverified reverse lookups.
Network protections reduce the feasibility of attackers exploiting unauthenticated reverse-DNS decisions.
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.
Network security controls can enforce authenticated, non-DNS-based host identification.
Secure network services discourage use of unauthenticated reverse-DNS for access decisions.
Application security requirements can mandate authenticated host verification instead of reverse DNS.
Secure architecture principles discourage reliance on unauthenticated DNS for security decisions.
Secure coding practices can replace reverse-DNS checks with cryptographically verified identities.
Strong authentication mechanisms reduce reliance on unauthenticated DNS-based identity decisions.