Microsoft Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Microsoft · Windows
A race-condition flaw (improper synchronization of a shared resource, CWE-362) exists in the Windows Search component of Microsoft Windows. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit it to execute code on the affected system, with exploitation requiring a victim to take some user action and the attack being hard to reliably time (high attack complexity).
Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 5/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
What can follow
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 6 days before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 1 day after disclosure.
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence6 days before
- Disclosedday 0
- Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+1 day
- Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+6 days
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
7 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order 7Initial AccessTA0001
This remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Office has been exploited by adversarial groups to distribute ransomware. Attackers use specially crafted Microsoft Office documents to bypass security features, enabling remote code execution without user prompts. These documents are typically delivered through phishing techniques, enticing victims to open them. Once opened, the ransomware encrypts files and demands a ransom for decryption, while also removing system backups and leaving a ransom note threatening data loss if recovery is attempted without the provided decryptor key. The ransomware further erases system logs and may publish stolen data on leak websites, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential installation of backdoors for further exploitation. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability in their security updates by introducing measures to make file paths unpredictable, thereby mitigating the exploit chain. Despite these updates, additional vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office and Windows were identified. Security solutions offer protection against these exploits, and findings are shared with cybersecurity alliances to enhance collective defense efforts. This vulnerability has been exploited by the Russian group Storm-0978, also known as RomCom, who craft specially designed Microsoft Office documents related to the Ukrainian World Congress. These documents bypass Microsoft's Mark-of-the-Web (MotW) security feature, enabling remote code execution without security prompts. The adversary used phishing techniques to deliver these documents, enticing victims to open them. Once opened, the ransomware, known as Underground, executes, encrypting files and demanding a ransom for decryption. The ransomware further removes shadow copies, terminates MS SQL Server services, and leaves a ransom note threatening data loss if recovery is attempted without their decryptor key. It also erases Windows Event logs and publishes stolen victim data on a data leak website, causing unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential installation of backdoors for further exploitation.
ExecutionTA0002
Defense Impairment
CollectionTA0009
ImpactTA0040
Detection
6 rules for this CVE · 137 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
6Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2023-36884 directly.- Potential CVE-2023-36884 Exploitation Patterncriticaltest
- Potential CVE-2023-36884 Exploitation - Share Accesshightest
- Potential CVE-2023-36884 Exploitation - URL Markerhightest
- Potential CVE-2023-36884 URL Request Pattern Traffichightest
- Potential CVE-2023-36884 Exploitation - File Downloadsmediumtest
- Potential CVE-2023-36884 Exploitation Dropped Filemediumtest
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
PhishingT156614 general rules
- CVE-2021-31979 CVE-2021-33771 Exploitscriticaltest
- CVE-2021-31979 CVE-2021-33771 Exploits by Sourgumcriticaltest
- HTML Help HH.EXE Suspicious Child Processhightest
- Okta FastPass Phishing Detectionhightest
- Phishing Pattern ISO in Archivehightest
- Potential Malicious Usage of CloudTrail System Managerhightest
- Suspicious External WebDAV Executionhightest
- Suspicious HH.EXE Executionhightest
Malicious FileT1204.00239 general rules
- Droppers Exploiting CVE-2017-11882criticalstable
- Ursnif Malware C2 URL Patterncriticalstable
- Exploit for CVE-2017-8759criticaltest
- Potential Maze Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- File With Uncommon Extension Created By An Office Applicationhightest
- Flash Player Update from Suspicious Locationhightest
- GAC DLL Loaded Via Office Applicationshightest
- HackTool - LittleCorporal Generated Maldoc Injectionhightest
Mark-of-the-Web BypassT1553.0056 general rules
- Suspicious Invoke-Item From Mount-DiskImagemediumtest
- Suspicious Unblock-Filemediumtest
- Windows AppX Deployment Full Trust Package Installationmediumexperimental
- Windows AppX Deployment Unsigned Package Installationmediumexperimental
- Suspicious Mount-DiskImagelowtest
- Windows MSIX Package Support Framework AI_STUBS Executionlowexperimental
Data from Local SystemT100514 general rules
- OpenCanary - SMB File Open Requesthightest
- Potential Conti Ransomware Database Dumping Activity Via SQLCmdhightest
- SQLite Chromium Profile Data DB Accesshightest
- SQLite Firefox Profile Data DB Accesshightest
- VeeamBackup Database Credentials Dump Via Sqlcmd.EXEhightest
- Script Interpreter Spawning Credential Scanner - Linuxhighexperimental
- Script Interpreter Spawning Credential Scanner - Windowshighexperimental
- Shai-Hulud NPM Package Malicious Exfiltration via Curlhighexperimental
Data Encrypted for ImpactT148617 general rules
- LockerGoga Ransomware Activitycriticalstable
- Antivirus - Ransomware Signaturecriticaltest
- Potential Conti Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- WannaCry Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- BlueSky Ransomware Artefactshightest
- Load Of RstrtMgr.DLL By A Suspicious Processhightest
- Renamed Gpg.EXE Executionhightest
- Suspicious Reg Add BitLockerhightest
Service StopT148920 general rules
- Delete All Scheduled Taskshightest
- Delete Important Scheduled Taskhightest
- Disable Important Scheduled Taskhightest
- Important Scheduled Task Deleted or Disabledhightest
- Suspicious Windows Service Tamperinghightest
- Azure Application Deletedmediumtest
- Azure Kubernetes Network Policy Changemediumtest
- Azure Kubernetes RoleBinding/ClusterRoleBinding Modified and Deletedmediumtest
Inhibit System RecoveryT149027 general rules
- Potential Dtrack RAT Activitycriticalstable
- Potential Maze Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- WannaCry Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- Boot Configuration Tampering Via Bcdedit.EXEhighstable
- Delete Volume Shadow Copies Via WMI With PowerShellhighstable
- Shadow Copies Deletion Using Operating Systems Utilitieshighstable
- All Backups Deleted Via Wbadmin.EXEhightest
- Copy From VolumeShadowCopy Via Cmd.EXEhightest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
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- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 202621 Oct 2026
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