CVE-2023-36033

CVE-2023-36033 is a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability discovered in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library. This flaw was detected as one of the zero-days being exploited in the wild, along with two other vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-36025 and CVE-2023-36036). An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain SYSTEM privileges, posing a significant threat to the security of Windows systems. The vulnerability was investigated in early April after reports indicated that it, alongside other flaws in Microsoft Windows and Server, was being actively exploited. The technical details of these vulnerabilities were publicly disclosed, further escalating the risk. Due to its active exploitation and public knowledge, CVE-2023-36033 should be given high priority in any mitigation efforts. This flaw exposes the Windows DWM Core Library to potential attacks, allowing adversaries to gain system-level privileges. It is essential for organizations to apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. As it is part of a series of vulnerabilities affecting multiple Microsoft products including Windows, Server, Office, 365 Apps, Visual Studio, .NET and ASP.NET Core, a comprehensive review and update of security measures across these platforms is advised.