CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-22047Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

Microsoft Windows Client Server Runtime Subsystem (CSRSS) Privilege Escalation

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-22047 is a high-severity untrusted search path vulnerability in Windows 10 Version 1809 from Microsoft, with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 10.0.17763.3165 as the first without the flaw, so updating Windows 10 Version 1809 to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on July 12, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Update Windows 10 Version 1809 to 10.0.17763.3165 or a later version.
  2. Update Windows Server 2019 to 10.0.17763.3165 or a later version.
  3. Update Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) to 10.0.17763.3165 or a later version.
  4. CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
  5. Read the advisory on msrc.microsoft.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 180910.0.17763.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.17763.3165; 10.0.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.17763.316510.0.17763.3165
MicrosoftWindows Server 201910.0.17763.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.17763.316510.0.17763.3165
MicrosoftWindows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)10.0.17763.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.17763.316510.0.17763.3165
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 21H110.0.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.19043.182610.0.19043.1826
MicrosoftWindows Server 202210.0.20348.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.20348.82510.0.20348.825
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 20H210.0.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.19042.182610.0.19042.1826
MicrosoftWindows Server version 20H210.0.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.19042.182610.0.19042.1826
MicrosoftWindows 11 version 21H210.0.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.22000.79510.0.22000.795
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 21H210.0.19043.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.19044.182610.0.19044.1826
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 150710.0.10240.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.10240.1936010.0.10240.19360
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 160710.0.14393.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.14393.524610.0.14393.5246
MicrosoftWindows Server 201610.0.14393.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.14393.524610.0.14393.5246
MicrosoftWindows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)10.0.14393.0 up to, but not including, 10.0.14393.524610.0.14393.5246
MicrosoftWindows 76.1.0 up to, but not including, 6.1.7601.260226.1.7601.26022
MicrosoftWindows 7 Service Pack 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 6.1.7601.260226.1.7601.26022
MicrosoftWindows 8.16.3.0 up to, but not including, 6.3.9600.204786.3.9600.20478
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 Service Pack 26.0.6003.0 up to, but not including, 6.0.6003.215696.0.6003.21569
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)6.0.6003.0 up to, but not including, 6.0.6003.215696.0.6003.21569
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 16.1.7601.0 up to, but not including, 6.1.7601.260226.1.7601.26022
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)6.1.7601.0 up to, but not including, 6.1.7601.260226.1.7601.26022
MicrosoftWindows Server 20126.2.9200.0 up to, but not including, 6.2.9200.237716.2.9200.23771
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)6.2.9200.0 up to, but not including, 6.2.9200.237716.2.9200.23771
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 R26.3.9600.0 up to, but not including, 6.3.9600.204786.3.9600.20478
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)6.3.9600.0 up to, but not including, 6.3.9600.204786.3.9600.20478
MicrosoftWindows 10 1507before 10.0.10240.1936010.0.10240.19360

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 9 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Access vector
LocalLocal access is required.
Access complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed.
Authentication
NoneNo login is needed.
Confidentiality
CompleteAll data can be read.
Integrity
CompleteAny data can be modified.
Availability
CompleteThe system can be shut down completely.

Vector: AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighCNA (microsoft.com)
CVSS 2.07.2HighNVD

Official description

Windows Client Server Run-time Subsystem (CSRSS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Untrusted Search Path

The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
  • When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
  • Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.

More Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilities (CWE-426)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  4. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Recent Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilities

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