# CVE-2023-21539: Windows Authentication Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code on Windows systems via a memory corruption flaw in the authentication component.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 1 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vjf5-w6w5-295q

## What is CVE-2023-21539?

CVE-2023-21539 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 20h2, published on 10 Jan 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Windows Authentication Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21539?

It affects 6 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 10 20h2, Microsoft Windows 10 21h2, Microsoft Windows 10 22h2, Microsoft Windows 11 21h2, Microsoft Windows 11 22h2, Microsoft Windows Server 2022.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-21539?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-21539 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-21539 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21539 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 10 20h2

- [CVE-2023-24871](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24871/): Windows Bluetooth Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-24905](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24905/): Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-21724](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21724/): Microsoft DWM Core Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-21733](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21733/): Windows Bind Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 7.0)
- [CVE-2022-44684](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44684/): Windows Local Session Manager (LSM) Denial of Service Vulnerability (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-21539 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-21539 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 20h2, published on 10 Jan 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21539 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 10 20h2. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21539/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21539/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21539
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21539
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21539

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21539/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.