IRONSMITHINTEL
MEDIUMCVSS6.5
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2023-36563|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

KB5031354: Windows Server Security Update (October 2023)

Microsoft WordPad contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for information disclosure.

Published Oct 10, 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. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2023-10-31 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Improper Input Validation (CWE-20) vulnerability in Microsoft WordPad. Exploitation requires remote network access, low 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:

●IT Security
●Running windows 10 1507: v < 10.0.10240.20232; windows 10 1607: v < 10.0.14393.6351; windows 10 1809: v < 10.0.17763.4974; windows 10 21h2: v < 10.0.19041.3570; windows 10 22h2: v < 10.0.19045.3570; windows 11 21h2: v < 10.0.22000.2538; windows 11 22h2: v < 10.0.22621.2428; windows server 2008: -, r2; windows server 2012: -, r2; windows server 2016: v < 10.0.14393.6351; windows server 2019: v < 10.0.17763.4974; windows server 2022: v < 10.0.20348.2031
Fixed inKB5031354, KB5031356, KB5031358, KB5031361, KB5031362, KB5031364, KB5031377, KB5031407, KB5031408, KB5031411, KB5031416, KB5031419, KB5031427, KB5031441, KB5031442 (applies to 33 product versions) — build 10.0.10240.20232, 10.0.14393.6351+
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

CISA added this CVE to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-10 based on evidence of active exploitation in the wild. Federal agencies required to remediate by 2023-10-31.

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 CatalogKB5031354

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Microsoft Security Update

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

Required KB Updates

    1
    KB5031354 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031354
    1
    KB5031356 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031356
    1
    KB5031358 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031358
    1
    KB5031361 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031361
    1
    KB5031362 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031362
    1
    KB5031364 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031364
    1
    KB5031377 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031377
    1
    KB5031407 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031407
    1
    KB5031408 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031408
    1
    KB5031411 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031411
    1
    KB5031416 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031416
    1
    KB5031419 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031419
    1
    KB5031427 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031427
    1
    KB5031441 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031441
    1
    KB5031442 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031442

Supersedes: KB5030211, KB5030213, KB5030214, KB5030216, KB5030217, KB5030219, KB5030220, KB5030265, KB5030269, KB5030271, KB5030278

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
    10.0.10240.20232
    1
    10.0.14393.6351
    1
    10.0.17763.4974
    1
    10.0.19041.3570
    1
    10.0.19045.3570
    1
    10.0.20348.2031
    1
    10.0.22000.2538
    1
    10.0.22621.2428
    1
    6.0.6003.22317
    1
    6.1.7601.26769
    1
    (…2 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 KB5031354
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 KB5031354 for the affected products in your update management console.

Microsoft Download Center Links

    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5031354
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5031356
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5031358
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5031361
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5031362
    1
    (…10 more)

Verification

Confirm the update is installed:

Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -in @('KB5031354','KB5031356','KB5031358','KB5031361','KB5031362','KB5031364','KB5031377','KB5031407','KB5031408','KB5031411','KB5031416','KB5031419','KB5031427','KB5031441','KB5031442') }

References

    1
    Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2023-36563
    1
    KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/help/5031364
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031354
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031356
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-36563
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-36563

Discovery Credit

Microsoft Threat Intelligence

PowerShell automationComing soon

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

References

↗ CVE-2023-36563↗ MSRC Advisory↗ NVD↗ KBKB5031354