{"cveID":"CVE-2022-41073","vendorProject":"Microsoft","product":"Windows","vulnerabilityName":"Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Privilege Escalation Vulnerability","dateAdded":"2022-11-08","shortDescription":"Microsoft Windows Print Spooler contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows an attacker to gain SYSTEM-level privileges.","requiredAction":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","dueDate":"2022-12-09","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Known","notes":"https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2022-41073;  https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41073","cwes":["CWE-787"],"year":2022,"state":"mapped","stale_reasons":[],"mappings":[{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2022-41073","technique":"T1078","technique_name_at_mapping":"Valid Accounts","mapping_type":"exploitation_technique","capability_group":"priv_escalation","comments":"This vulnerability is exploited by an attacker who has obtained access to manipulate the Print Spooler service on the target system. The vulnerability lies in the Print Spooler, specifically involving XML manipulation and path traversal to a writable path containing a modified version of the `prntvpt.dll` file. This vulnerability has been exploited by threat actors to load unauthorized code on Windows systems. Attackers leveraged this flaw to execute arbitrary code, allowing them to manipulate system processes and potentially deploy additional malware or perform further malicious activities.\n\nThe exploit in question is actively being used in the wild. It involves exploiting the path traversal vulnerability to load a malicious DLL by manipulating the Print Spooler service. Once the vulnerability is exploited, attackers can bypass impersonation controls to load untrusted resources, thereby executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges.","references":["https://securelist.com/windows-vulnerabilities/112232/","https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-41073"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"},{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2022-41073","technique":"T1068","technique_name_at_mapping":"Exploitation for Privilege Escalation","mapping_type":"primary_impact","capability_group":"priv_escalation","comments":"This vulnerability is exploited by an attacker who has obtained access to manipulate the Print Spooler service on the target system. The vulnerability lies in the Print Spooler, specifically involving XML manipulation and path traversal to a writable path containing a modified version of the `prntvpt.dll` file. This vulnerability has been exploited by threat actors to load unauthorized code on Windows systems. Attackers leveraged this flaw to execute arbitrary code, allowing them to manipulate system processes and potentially deploy additional malware or perform further malicious activities.\n\nThe exploit in question is actively being used in the wild. It involves exploiting the path traversal vulnerability to load a malicious DLL by manipulating the Print Spooler service. Once the vulnerability is exploited, attackers can bypass impersonation controls to load untrusted resources, thereby executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges.","references":["https://securelist.com/windows-vulnerabilities/112232/","https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-41073"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"},{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2022-41073","technique":"T1574","technique_name_at_mapping":"Hijack Execution Flow","mapping_type":"secondary_impact","capability_group":"priv_escalation","comments":"This vulnerability is exploited by an attacker who has obtained access to manipulate the Print Spooler service on the target system. The vulnerability lies in the Print Spooler, specifically involving XML manipulation and path traversal to a writable path containing a modified version of the `prntvpt.dll` file. This vulnerability has been exploited by threat actors to load unauthorized code on Windows systems. Attackers leveraged this flaw to execute arbitrary code, allowing them to manipulate system processes and potentially deploy additional malware or perform further malicious activities.\n\nThe exploit in question is actively being used in the wild. It involves exploiting the path traversal vulnerability to load a malicious DLL by manipulating the Print Spooler service. Once the vulnerability is exploited, attackers can bypass impersonation controls to load untrusted resources, thereby executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges.","references":["https://securelist.com/windows-vulnerabilities/112232/","https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-41073"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1068","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Exploitation for Privilege Escalation","name_at_mapping":"Exploitation for Privilege Escalation","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["primary_impact"],"sigma_rule_count":31,"has_detection_strategy":true},{"id":"T1078","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Valid Accounts","name_at_mapping":"Valid Accounts","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["exploitation_technique"],"sigma_rule_count":56,"has_detection_strategy":true},{"id":"T1574","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Hijack Execution Flow","name_at_mapping":"Hijack Execution Flow","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["secondary_impact"],"sigma_rule_count":8,"has_detection_strategy":true}],"mapping_types":["exploitation_technique","primary_impact","secondary_impact"],"has_exploitation_technique":true,"mapping_attack_versions":["16.1"],"mapping_domains":["enterprise"],"sigma_coverage":"full","sigma_rules_tagged_cve":[],"added_after_mapping_snapshot":false,"_source":"kevmap","_built":"2026-08-23 05:47 UTC","_attack_version":"19.2"}