Appsecure logo

CVE-2023-36788: High Vulnerability in Microsoft .NET Framework

A high-severity remote code execution vulnerability exists in .NET Framework. Organizations must patch immediately to mitigate potential exploitation risks.

HIGHCVSS 7.8 · Published September 12, 2023

Not a customer? See how AppSecure simulates real world attacks to protect your infrastructure.

Speak to Experts

.NET Framework has a newly identified vulnerability classified as a Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems if they can interact with them. Given the nature of this issue, it poses a significant risk to organizations that utilize the affected .NET Framework versions.

The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.8, categorizing it as high-severity. This score indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited with low complexity, requiring no privileges and necessitating user interaction, which amplifies the urgency for organizations to implement patches.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access and control over systems, which could lead to data breaches or further exploitation.

Currently, no public exploit has been confirmed, and the vulnerability is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the potential for exploitation warrants immediate attention.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability detailed in CVE-2023-36788 is specifically related to the .NET Framework. Its primary description states that it allows for remote code execution. The CVSS score of 7.8 indicates a high-severity risk, particularly when user interaction is involved, and the attack vector is local.

The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the .NET Framework, including 2.0 SP2, 3.0 SP2, 3.5, 3.5.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, and 4.8.1. The publication date of this vulnerability is September 12, 2023.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of local user interactions, which can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have access to the system where the vulnerable software is running. The attack complexity is low, indicating that it can be exploited with minimal effort.

No privileges are required for exploitation, and user interaction is necessary, which might involve convincing the user to execute a malicious payload. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated as high, indicating that the vulnerability poses a significant risk to the system's security.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The risk associated with CVE-2023-36788 is substantial, given its ability to allow remote code execution. Organizations utilizing affected versions of the .NET Framework are at risk of unauthorized access, which could lead to data theft, system compromise, or further exploitation of their network.

The blast radius potential is significant, as the .NET Framework is widely used in various applications. Organizations must assess their exposure and prioritize remediation based on this CVSS score, as it reflects a high likelihood of exploitation.

Given the absence of public exploits and KEV status, the urgency level is high, and organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The following versions of the .NET Framework are affected by this vulnerability: 2.0 SP2, 3.0 SP2, 3.5, 3.5.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, and 4.8.1. Organizations should consider upgrading to the latest supported versions to mitigate risk.

Mitigation & Remediation

To address this vulnerability, organizations should apply patches provided by Microsoft as soon as possible. For more information on the patch, please refer to the Security Update Guide. Additionally, organizations should review their security configurations and ensure that their systems are monitored for any unusual activity related to this vulnerability.

Detection Guidance

To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unexpected user interactions and any code execution attempts that originate from the .NET Framework.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The emergence of CVE-2023-36788 highlights the continued importance of secure coding practices and timely patch management within the software development lifecycle. Organizations must remain vigilant in their application security efforts to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Security teams can benefit from regularly reviewing their vulnerability management program and adopting proactive measures such as penetration testing to strengthen their defenses against evolving threats.

In conclusion, the .NET Framework Remote Code Execution Vulnerability requires immediate attention from organizations to protect their systems and data integrity.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

Latest CVEs. Recently published vulnerabilities from the NVD database.

View all vulnerabilities
CVE IDSeverity
CVE-2025-65418HIGH
CVE-2025-65417MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65416MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65415MEDIUM
CVE-2025-61314HIGH

Protect Your Business with Hacker-Focused Approach.