IRONSMITHINTEL
HIGHCVSS7.8
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2023-36033|Auth: low — authenticated user|Reboot: required|Manual only

KB5032189: Windows Server Security Update (November 2023)

Microsoft Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

Published Nov 14, 2023 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A local attacker, with a low-privilege account, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2023-12-05 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Software Vulnerability (CWE-822) (CWE-822) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. Windows DWM Core Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Exploitation requires local access, low attack complexity, a low-privilege authenticated account, and no user interaction required.

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

●Windows Administrators
●Systems Engineers
●IT Security
●Running windows 10 1809: v < 10.0.17763.5122; windows 10 21h2: v < 10.0.19041.3693; windows 10 22h2: v < 10.0.19045.3693; windows 11 21h2: v < 10.0.22000.2600; windows 11 22h2: v < 10.0.22621.2715; windows 11 23h2: v < 10.0.22621.2715; windows server 2019: v < 10.0.17763.5122; windows server 2022: v < 10.0.20348.2113; windows server 2022 23h2: v < 10.0.25398.531
Fixed inKB5032189, KB5032190, KB5032192, KB5032196, KB5032198, KB5032202, KB5032304 (applies to 20 product versions) — build 10.0.17763.5122, 10.0.19043.3693+
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

CISA added this CVE to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-11-14 based on evidence of active exploitation in the wild. Federal agencies required to remediate by 2023-12-05.

How to patch

Manual download

For air-gapped servers or out-of-band deployment. Microsoft Update Catalog returns every OS-version variant of this update.

↗ Microsoft Update CatalogKB5032189

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Microsoft Security Update

Microsoft has released an official security update that fixes this vulnerability.

Required KB Updates

    1
    KB5032189 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032189
    1
    KB5032190 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032190
    1
    KB5032192 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032192
    1
    KB5032196 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032196
    1
    KB5032198 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032198
    1
    KB5032202 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032202
    1
    KB5032304 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032304

Supersedes: KB5031354, KB5031356, KB5031358, KB5031361, KB5031364

Affected Products

    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows Server 2019
    1
    Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
    1
    Windows Server 2022
    1
    Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
    1
    Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)

Fixed Build Numbers

    1
    10.0.17763.5122
    1
    10.0.19043.3693
    1
    10.0.19045.3693
    1
    10.0.20348.2091
    1
    10.0.20348.2113
    1
    10.0.22000.2600
    1
    10.0.22621.2715
    1
    10.0.22631.2715
    1
    10.0.25398.531

Installation Methods

Windows Update (recommended)

1
Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
2
The security update is offered if your system is in scope
3
Restart when prompted — a reboot IS required to complete the install

Microsoft Update Catalog (manual download)

1
Open https://catalog.update.microsoft.com
2
Search for KB5032189
3
Download the package matching your OS architecture and Windows build
4
Run the .msu installer with administrator privileges
5
Restart when prompted

WSUS / SCCM / Intune

Approve KB5032189 for the affected products in your update management console.

Microsoft Download Center Links

    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5032189
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5032190
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5032192
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5032196
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5032198
    1
    (…2 more)

Verification

Confirm the update is installed:

Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -in @('KB5032189','KB5032190','KB5032192','KB5032196','KB5032198','KB5032202','KB5032304') }

References

    1
    Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36033
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032189
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032190
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5032192
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-36033
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-36033

Discovery Credit

Quan Jin(@jq0904) with DBAPPSecurity WeBin Lab

PowerShell automationComing soon

No tested PowerShell script for this entry yet. We’re prioritising automation based on user demand.

References

↗ CVE-2023-36033↗ MSRC Advisory↗ NVD↗ KBKB5032189