IRONSMITHINTEL
HIGHCVSS7.5
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2023-36884|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

KB5029242: Windows Server Security Update (July 2023)

Microsoft Windows Search contains an unspecified vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file, leading to remote code execution.

Published Jul 11, 2023 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. CISA has confirmed use of this vulnerability in known ransomware campaigns — treat as high priority for remediation. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2023-08-29 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Race Condition (CWE-362) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. Exploitation requires remote network access, higher attack complexity, no authentication required, and user interaction required.

📧

Phishing link

→

🖼

Malicious file

🔓

Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

●Windows Administrators
●Systems Engineers
●IT Security
●Running windows 10 1507: v < 10.0.10240.20107; windows 10 1607: v < 10.0.14393.6167; windows 10 1809: v < 10.0.17763.4737; windows 10 21h2: v < 10.0.19044.3324; windows 10 22h2: v < 10.0.19044.3324; windows 11 21h2: v < 10.0.22000.2295; windows 11 22h2: v < 10.0.22621.2134; windows server 2008: -, r2; windows server 2012: -, r2; windows server 2016: v < 10.0.14393.6167; windows server 2019: v < 10.0.17763.4737; windows server 2022: v < 10.0.20348.1903
Fixed inKB5029242, KB5029244, KB5029247, KB5029250, KB5029253, KB5029259, KB5029263, KB5029295, KB5029296, KB5029301, KB5029304, KB5029307, KB5029308, KB5029312, KB5029318, KB5029367 (applies to 33 product versions) — build 10.0.10240.20107, 10.0.14393.6167+
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

CISA confirms this CVE has been used in known ransomware campaigns. Added to the KEV catalog on 2023-07-17; federal agencies required to remediate by 2023-08-29.

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 CatalogKB5029242

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Microsoft Security Update

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

Required KB Updates

    1
    KB5029242 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029242
    1
    KB5029244 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029244
    1
    KB5029247 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029247
    1
    KB5029250 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029250
    1
    KB5029253 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029253
    1
    KB5029259 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029259
    1
    KB5029263 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029263
    1
    KB5029295 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029295
    1
    KB5029296 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029296
    1
    KB5029301 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029301
    1
    KB5029304 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029304
    1
    KB5029307 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029307
    1
    KB5029308 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029308
    1
    KB5029312 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029312
    1
    KB5029318 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029318
    1
    KB5029367 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029367

Supersedes: KB5028166, KB5028168, KB5028169, KB5028171, KB5028182, KB5028185, KB5028186, KB5028222, KB5028228, KB5028232, KB5028240

Affected Products

    1
    Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
    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 10 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 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 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
    1
    Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
    1
    Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2
    1
    (…13 more product versions)

Fixed Build Numbers

    1
    10.0.10240.20107
    1
    10.0.14393.6167
    1
    10.0.17763.4737
    1
    10.0.19044.3324
    1
    10.0.19045.3324
    1
    10.0.20348.1903
    1
    10.0.20348.1906
    1
    10.0.22000.2295
    1
    10.0.22621.2134
    1
    6.0.6003.22216
    1
    (…3 more builds)

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 KB5029242
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 KB5029242 for the affected products in your update management console.

Microsoft Download Center Links

    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5029242
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5029244
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5029247
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5029250
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5029253
    1
    (…11 more)

Verification

Confirm the update is installed:

Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -in @('KB5029242','KB5029244','KB5029247','KB5029250','KB5029253','KB5029259','KB5029263','KB5029295','KB5029296','KB5029301','KB5029304','KB5029307','KB5029308','KB5029312','KB5029318','KB5029367') }

References

    1
    Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36884
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029244
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029247
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029250
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-36884
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-36884

Discovery Credit

Microsoft Office Product Group Security Team, Tom Lancaster with Volexity, Paul Rascagneres with Volexity, Vlad Stolyarov, Clement Lecigne and Bahare Sabouri of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), Microsoft Threat Intelligence

PowerShell automationComing soon

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

References

↗ CVE-2023-36884↗ MSRC Advisory↗ NVD↗ KBKB5029242