CVE-2022-35750 Overview
CVE-2022-35750 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Win32k kernel-mode subsystem. The flaw allows a locally authenticated attacker to elevate privileges to SYSTEM, gaining full control of the affected host. Microsoft published the advisory through its Security Update Guide, and the issue affects a wide range of Windows desktop and server releases, including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server editions from 2008 through 2022.
Critical Impact
A successful exploit grants SYSTEM-level code execution, enabling attackers to disable security tooling, install persistent implants, and pivot deeper into Windows environments.
Affected Products
- Microsoft Windows 10 (versions 1507, 1607, 1809, 20H2, 21H1) and Windows 11 21H2
- Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, and Server 20H2
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-05-31 - CVE-2022-35750 published to NVD
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2022-35750
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Win32k.sys, the kernel-mode driver that handles the Windows graphical subsystem, window management, and user-mode input. A locally authenticated user can trigger a flaw in Win32k handling that results in elevation of privilege to SYSTEM. Microsoft classified the issue as elevation of privilege without publishing detailed root-cause information, and NVD lists the weakness as NVD-CWE-noinfo.
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System vector indicates an attacker needs prior code execution on the host with low privileges. No user interaction is required, and a successful exploit yields high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Root Cause
Microsoft has not publicly disclosed the root cause. Historically, Win32k elevation of privilege bugs stem from issues such as type confusion, use-after-free, or insufficient validation of user-mode callbacks invoked from kernel context. Refer to the Microsoft CVE-2022-35750 Advisory for vendor-specific guidance.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access with an authenticated low-privileged account. An attacker who already executes code on the host, for example through phishing, a malicious document, or a foothold from a separate remote vulnerability, can chain CVE-2022-35750 to escape application sandboxes and obtain kernel privileges. The Exploit Prediction Scoring System places this CVE in the 89th percentile, reflecting elevated likelihood of weaponization compared to the average vulnerability.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. The vulnerability is described in prose because real exploitation primitives have not been published in trusted sources.
Detection Methods for CVE-2022-35750
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected processes spawning with SYSTEM or NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM integrity from a previously low-privileged parent process.
- Crash dumps or WerFault.exe events referencing win32k.sys, win32kfull.sys, or win32kbase.sys on unpatched hosts.
- New service installations, scheduled tasks, or driver loads created immediately after a user-mode process performs unusual GDI or USER API calls.
Detection Strategies
- Hunt for parent-child process anomalies where a medium-integrity user process spawns a high-integrity child without a documented elevation path such as consent.exe.
- Correlate Windows Event ID 4672 (special privileges assigned) with the originating process to identify unexpected SYSTEM token acquisition.
- Apply behavioral analytics to identify kernel exploitation patterns, including token swapping and abnormal access to EPROCESS structures from user-initiated code paths.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Centralize Windows Security, Sysmon, and kernel telemetry into a SIEM or data lake for cross-host correlation of privilege escalation patterns.
- Track installation status of the August 2022 cumulative update across all Windows endpoints and servers using configuration management tooling.
- Alert on disabled or tampered endpoint protection services immediately following local logon events.
How to Mitigate CVE-2022-35750
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Microsoft security update referenced in the Microsoft CVE-2022-35750 Advisory to every affected Windows and Windows Server build.
- Prioritize patching of multi-user systems such as Remote Desktop Session Hosts, Citrix servers, and developer workstations where local privilege escalation has the highest blast radius.
- Restrict interactive and remote logon rights to the minimum set of administrators and service accounts required for operations.
Patch Information
Microsoft addressed CVE-2022-35750 through its monthly Patch Tuesday cumulative updates for all supported Windows versions. Administrators should consult the Microsoft Security Update Guide entry and install the corresponding KB for each operating system build. Legacy systems such as Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 require Extended Security Update (ESU) coverage to receive the fix.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching is the only supported remediation.
- Reduce exposure by enforcing least-privilege accounts, application allow-listing, and credential hygiene to limit the value of a successful local escalation.
- Deploy endpoint protection capable of identifying kernel exploitation behavior and block execution of untrusted binaries on unpatched hosts until updates are deployed.
# Verify installation status of the relevant Windows security update
wmic qfe list brief /format:table
# PowerShell equivalent
Get-HotFix | Sort-Object -Property InstalledOn -Descending | Select-Object -First 20
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
