Microsoft Windows 11/Server 2022 win32kbase.sys DirectComposition null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
5.7$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Microsoft Windows 11/Server 2022. Affected by this issue is the function DirectComposition in the library win32kbase.sys. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2022-40733. The attack requires a local approach. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Microsoft Windows 11/Server 2022. This affects the function DirectComposition in the library win32kbase.sys. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

An access violation vulnerability exists in the DirectComposition functionality win32kbase.sys driver version 10.0.22000.593 as part of Windows 11 version 22000.593 and version 10.0.20348.643 as part of Windows Server 2022 version 20348.643. A specially-crafted set of syscalls can lead to a reboot. An unprivileged user can run specially-crafted code to trigger Denial Of Service.

It is possible to read the advisory at talosintelligence.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2022-40733 since 09/14/2022. The exploitability is told to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/27/2025).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 6.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 5.0
CNA Vector (talos): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

09/14/2022 🔍
12/18/2024 +826 days 🔍
12/18/2024 +0 days 🔍
08/27/2025 +252 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: TALOS-2022-1515
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2022-40733 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-40733
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-288927

Entryinfo

Created: 12/19/2024 00:01
Updated: 08/27/2025 05:28
Changes: 12/19/2024 00:01 (65), 08/27/2025 05:28 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to know what is going to be exploited?

We predict KEV entries!