CVE-2022-44698 Microsoft Defender: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Jan 3, 2023
What to do
- Install Microsoft's security update for Defender. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
- Product
- Microsoft Defender
- CISA description
- Microsoft Defender SmartScreen contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-755)
- Confirmed exploited
- Dec 13, 2022 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Jan 3, 2023
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Answering about CVE-2022-44698 ·
Questions about CVE-2022-44698
Is CVE-2022-44698 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2022-44698 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Dec 13, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2022-44698?
Install Microsoft's security update for Defender. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2022-44698?
Only if you use Microsoft Defender. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.