CVE-2022-26923
CVE-2022-26923 is a security flaw in Microsoft Active Directory, the system companies use to manage staff accounts and computers. Someone who already has a foothold can use Microsoft Active Directory to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 18 Aug 2022.[1]
Microsoft Active Directory is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 10.0.17763.4252, 10.0.18363.2274, 10.0.19043.1706 and 10.0.20348.1668 and others.
Description
CISA calls it a domain services privilege escalation in Microsoft Active Directory. In its words: “An authenticated user could manipulate attributes on computer accounts they own or manage, and acquire a certificate from Active Directory Certificate Services that would allow for privilege escalation to SYSTEM.”[1]
The underlying weakness is CWE-295, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 Version 1809 | 10.0.17763.4252 |
| Windows Server 2019 | 10.0.17763.4252 |
| Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | 10.0.17763.4252 |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 | 10.0.18363.2274 |
| Windows 10 Version 21H1 | 10.0.19043.1706 |
| Windows Server 2022 | 10.0.20348.1668 |
| Windows 10 Version 20H2 | 10.0.19042.1706 |
| Windows Server version 20H2 | 10.0.19042.1706 |
Most families won’t have Microsoft Active Directory; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 18 Aug 2022, 100 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 8 Sep 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 84%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Microsoft has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Microsoft Active Directory is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 10.0.17763.4252, 10.0.18363.2274, 10.0.19043.1706 and 10.0.20348.1668 and others), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 8 Sep 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 8.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 84%.[4] |
See also
Other Microsoft Active Directory flaws
- CVE-2021-42287: domain services privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2021-42278: domain services privilege escalation ·
Other Microsoft flaws
- CVE-2026-96951, Microsoft Windows: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-85880, Microsoft Windows: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-81963, Microsoft Windows: link following ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2026-85102, Check Point products: improper certificate validation ·
- CVE-2023-41991, Apple devices: improper certificate validation ·
- CVE-2023-20963, Android Framework: privilege escalation ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-32894, Apple iOS and macOS: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2022-32893, Apple iOS and macOS: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2022-2856, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: insufficient input validation ·
- CVE-2022-22536, SAP products: HTTP request smuggling ·
- CVE-2022-21971, Microsoft Windows: runtime remote code execution ·
Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in August 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft Active Directory Domain Services Privilege Escalation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 18 Aug 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-26923 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 10 May 2022.
- ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: msrc.microsoft.com, msrc.microsoft.com, portal.msrc.microsoft.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.835, percentile 99.7, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-26923”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.