CVE-2023-36884
Confirmed PUBLISHEDWindows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE Published
- Jul 11, 2023
- Exploitation Reported
- Jul 17, 2023
- CVSS
- 7.5 High
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft |
Windows 10 Version 1809
|
10.0.17763.0 to < 10.0.17763.4737 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 10 Version 1809
|
10.0.0 to < 10.0.17763.4737 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2019
|
10.0.17763.0 to < 10.0.17763.4737 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
|
10.0.17763.0 to < 10.0.17763.4737 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2022
|
10.0.20348.0 to < 10.0.20348.1906 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 11 version 21H2
|
10.0.0 to < 10.0.22000.2295 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 10 Version 21H2
|
10.0.19043.0 to < 10.0.19044.3324 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 11 version 22H2
|
10.0.22621.0 to < 10.0.22621.2134 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 10 Version 22H2
|
10.0.19045.0 to < 10.0.19045.3324 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 10 Version 1507
|
10.0.10240.0 to < 10.0.10240.20107 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows 10 Version 1607
|
10.0.14393.0 to < 10.0.14393.6167 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2016
|
10.0.14393.0 to < 10.0.14393.6167 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
|
10.0.14393.0 to < 10.0.14393.6167 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
|
6.0.6003.0 to < 6.0.6003.22216 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
|
6.0.6003.0 to < 6.0.6003.22216 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
|
6.0.6003.0 to < 6.0.6003.22216 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
|
6.1.7601.0 to < 6.1.7601.26664 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
|
6.1.7601.0 to < 6.1.7601.26664 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2012
|
6.2.9200.0 to < 6.2.9200.24414 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
|
6.2.9200.0 to < 6.2.9200.24414 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2012 R2
|
6.3.9600.0 to < 6.3.9600.21503 |
Affected |
| Microsoft |
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)
|
6.3.9600.0 to < 6.3.9600.21503 |
Affected |
CVE References
- Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability msrc.microsoft.com · Vendor Advisory https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36884
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2023-07-17 00:00 UTC |
No detection artifacts or sensor request patterns are available for this CVE yet.
Check back as sensor telemetry and scanner integrations are updated.
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2023-07-17 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Used in malware
Recorded 2023-07-17 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2023-07-12 14:13:20 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nessus | https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/179501 | Jun 02, 2025 |
Recent Mentions
Google Threat Intelligence · Apr 29, 2025
Written by: Casey Charrier, James Sadowski, Clement Lecigne, Vlad Stolyarov Executive Summary Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) tracked 75 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild in 2024, a decrease from the number we identified in 2023 (98 vulnerabilities), but still an increase from 2022 (63 vulnerabilities). We divided the reviewed vulnerabilities into two main categories: end-user platforms and products (e.g., mobile devices, operating systems, and browsers) and enterprise-focused technologies, such as security software and appliances. Vendors continue to drive improvements that make some zero-day exploitation harder, demonstrated by both dwindling numbers across multiple categories and reduced observed attacks against previously popular targets. At the same time, commercial surveillance vendors (CSVs) appear to be increasing their operational security practices, potentially leading to decreased attribution and detection. We see zero-day exploitation targeting a greater number and wider variety of enterprise-specific technologies, although these technologies still remain a smaller proportion of overall exploitation when compared to end-user technologies. While the historic focus on the exploitation of popular end-user technologies and their users continues, the shift toward increased targeting of enterprise-focused products will require a wider and more diverse set of vendors to increase proactive security measures in order to reduce future zero-day exploitation attempts. For a deeper look at the trends discussed in this report, along with recommendations for defenders, register for our upcoming zero-day webinar. Scope This report describes what Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) knows about zero-day exploitation in 2024. We discuss how targeted vendors and exploited products drive trends that reflect threat actor goals and shifting exploitation approaches, and then closely examine several examples of zero-day exploitation from 2024 that…
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2023-09-28 11:53:44 UTC · 40 stars
MS Office and Windows HTML RCE (CVE-2023-36884) - PoC and exploit
github · Created 2023-07-30 14:53:25 UTC · 1 stars
#comeonits2023 #ie9 #Storm-0978
github · Created 2023-07-28 20:39:37 UTC · 2 stars
github · Created 2023-07-17 14:02:40 UTC · 14 stars
Script to check for CVE-2023-36884 hardening
github · Created 2023-07-15 16:56:18 UTC · 2 stars
This is an emergency solution while Microsoft addresses the vulnerability.
github · Created 2023-07-12 14:13:20 UTC · 25 stars
The remediation script should set the reg entries described in https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36884 . The detection script checks if they exist. Provided AS-IS without any warrenty.
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
09:26 UTC about 1 year ago09:26 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nessus plugin available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC about 3 years ago00:00 UTC · about 3 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
00:00 UTC about 3 years ago00:00 UTC · about 3 years ago
First public exploitation report
Exploit observed in malware
-
14:13 UTC about 3 years ago14:13 UTC · about 3 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
18:14 UTC about 3 years ago18:14 UTC · about 3 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
20:28 UTC about 3 years ago20:28 UTC · about 3 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2023-36884
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2023-36884",
"title": "Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability",
"affected_vendor": "Microsoft",
"affected_product": "Windows 10 Version 1809, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation), Windows Server 2022, Windows 11 version 21H2, Windows 10 Version 21H2, Windows 11 version 22H2, Windows 10 Version 22H2, Windows 10 Version 1507, Windows 10 Version 1607, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation), Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation), Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation), Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation), Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 7.5,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}