Zoom Rooms for Windows installers before version 5.13.0 contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability. This vulnerability allows a local low-privileged user to exploit the system in an attack chain, escalating their privileges to the SYSTEM user. The CVSS base score of this vulnerability is 8.8, indicating a high severity level, which underscores its significance in terms of potential damage and exploitability.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information and system integrity compromise, which could lead to further attacks. With a local attack vector and low complexity of exploitation, this vulnerability poses a serious threat. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
As of now, there are no known exploits publicly available for this vulnerability, and it is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the potential for exploitation exists, and organizations should remain vigilant.
To ensure system security, organizations must act swiftly and incorporate this vulnerability into their risk management and patching strategies.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36930 affects Zoom Rooms for Windows installers prior to version 5.13.0. It has been classified with a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8, with the following key parameters: attack vector is local, attack complexity is low, and privileges required are low. User interaction is not required, and any successful exploitation can lead to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The CVE was published on January 9, 2023, and has been modified since its initial release. The corresponding CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-427, indicating a potential issue with untrusted search path vulnerabilities.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of the vulnerability lies in the way Zoom Rooms for Windows installers manage user privileges. A low-privileged user can leverage this flaw through an attack chain to escalate privileges, gaining complete control over the system as the SYSTEM user.
The attack vector is local, meaning it requires physical or local access to the affected system. The complexity of the attack is low, and the privileges required to exploit this vulnerability are also low, which significantly increases the risk of exploitation.
Exploitation does not require user interaction, making it easier for attackers to execute the attack without raising alarms. The impact of a successful exploit can lead to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using Zoom Rooms must recognize the real-world risks posed by CVE-2022-36930. With the potential for local privilege escalation, attackers may gain SYSTEM-level access, allowing them to manipulate sensitive data, install malware, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks.
The blast radius of this vulnerability can be substantial, particularly in environments where Zoom Rooms are widely deployed. Given that this vulnerability has a high CVSS score and is not currently being exploited in the wild, organizations should act promptly to patch the affected versions to reduce their risk profile.
Organizations should schedule remediation of this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to ensure that their systems remain secure. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to significant operational disruptions and data breaches.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected product is Zoom Rooms for Windows, specifically all versions prior to 5.13.0. Organizations using versions prior to this should upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade Zoom Rooms to version 5.13.0 or later. If the patch is not immediately available, organizations should consider implementing network controls to restrict access and monitor system behavior for any anomalies.
For further guidance on security practices, organizations can refer to the application security assessment services provided by AppSecure.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns or changes in user privileges. Additionally, any modifications to Zoom Rooms installations should be logged and reviewed regularly to detect any unauthorized changes.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software in an organization's environment. Security teams should prioritize regular updates and patching as part of their overall security strategy. For more comprehensive insights on vulnerability management, organizations can explore our vulnerability management program and related services.
Understanding the patterns of privilege escalation can lead to better defensive strategies. Organizations are encouraged to review their security posture and implement best practices for privilege escalation to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
As organizations adopt more cloud and hybrid environments, continuous monitoring and vulnerability assessments become vital in preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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