CVE-2023-50185
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2025
Not used
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
cve-2023-21838 represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability affecting microsoft windows operating systems through improper handling of kernel-mode drivers. this flaw exists within the windows kernel execution environment where insufficient validation occurs during driver loading processes. the vulnerability specifically impacts the nt kernel subsystem and allows unprivileged users to escalate their privileges to system level access through crafted malicious driver installations. the technical root cause stems from inadequate input sanitization within the kernel driver framework where user-supplied data bypasses normal security checks. attackers can exploit this by creating specially crafted driver files that leverage the kernel execution path to gain unauthorized administrative access. the vulnerability falls under common weakness enumeration category 269 which identifies improper privilege management issues within operating system components. from an operational perspective this flaw enables attackers to bypass standard authentication mechanisms and execute arbitrary code with full system privileges. the attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where users unknowingly install malicious drivers through deceptive software packages or drive-by downloads. organizations running affected windows versions including windows 10 and windows server 2019 face significant risk exposure as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring prior authentication. the exploit requires minimal technical expertise making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. mitigation strategies include immediate installation of microsoft security patches that address the kernel driver validation issues. additionally organizations should implement strict driver signing policies and disable unnecessary driver installation capabilities. the attack pattern aligns with mitre att&ck technique 0003 which covers privilege escalation through kernel exploits. network administrators should monitor for suspicious driver installation activities and implement endpoint detection solutions that can identify anomalous kernel behavior. the vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenge of maintaining kernel security boundaries where user space applications can potentially influence kernel execution paths. microsoft has classified this as a critical severity issue requiring immediate remediation across all affected systems. organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running vulnerable windows versions and prioritize patch deployment. the flaw highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against kernel-level exploits. regular security audits should verify that driver installation policies are properly enforced and that only trusted software can execute within kernel space.