CVE-2022-44698
CVE-2022-44698 is a security flaw in Microsoft Defender, the antivirus built into Windows. Attackers can get past a security protection in Microsoft Defender. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 13 Dec 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Microsoft Defender is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 10.0.17763.3770, 10.0.19043.2364, 10.0.20348.1366 and 10.0.19042.2364 and others.
Description
CISA calls it a smartScreen security feature bypass in Microsoft Defender. In its words: “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.”[1]
The underlying weakness is CWE-755, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 5.4 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, 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 | 10.0.17763.3770 |
| Windows Server 2019 | 10.0.17763.3770 |
| Windows 10 Version 21H1 | 10.0.19043.2364 |
| Windows Server 2022 | 10.0.20348.1366 |
| Windows 10 Version 20H2 | 10.0.19042.2364 |
| Windows 11 version 21H2 | 10.0.22000.1335 |
| Windows 10 Version 21H2 | 10.0.19044.2364 |
| Windows 10 Version 22H2 | 10.0.19045.2364 |
Every device with Microsoft Defender needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 13 Dec 2022, within a day of it being made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 3 Jan 2023 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
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 76%. 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]
- Update Microsoft Defender now.Install the latest update from Microsoft on every device that has it, and restart when asked. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 10.0.17763.3770 or later.Fixed in version 10.0.17763.3770, 10.0.19043.2364, 10.0.20348.1366 and 10.0.19042.2364 and others. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 5.4.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[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 76%.[4] |
See also
Other Microsoft Defender flaws
- CVE-2026-45498: denial of service ·
- CVE-2026-41091: link following ·
- CVE-2026-33825: insufficient granularity of access control ·
- CVE-2021-1647: remote code execution ·
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-2020-7247, OpenBSD OpenSMTPD: remote code execution ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-42475, Fortinet FortiOS: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2022-27518, Citrix Application Delivery Controller (ADC) and Gateway: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2022-26501, Veeam Backup & Replication: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2022-26500, Veeam Backup & Replication: remote code execution ·
Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in December 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 13 Dec 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-44698 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 13 Dec 2022.
- ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: msrc.microsoft.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.763, percentile 99.5, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-44698”. 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.