---
title: "CVE-2023-28229: Microsoft Windows CNG Key Isolation Service Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-28229/
description: "CVE-2023-28229 (Microsoft Windows CNG Key Isolation Service): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Windows CNG Key Isolation Service Elevation of Privilege…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-04-11
date_modified: 2025-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-28229"
kev: true
cvss: 7
epss: 0.01671
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-28229: Microsoft Windows CNG Key Isolation Service Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Microsoft Windows CNG Key Isolation Service. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-04, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2023-10-25 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 1.7% , percentile 77: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 77% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.

## What it is

Windows CNG Key Isolation Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4252
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.4252
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4252
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation): 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.4252
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.1668
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 20H2: 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.2846
- Microsoft Windows 11 version 21H2: 10.0.0 < 10.0.22000.1817
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19043.0 < 10.0.19044.2846
- Microsoft Windows 11 version 22H2: 10.0.22621.0 < 10.0.22621.1555
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.2846

## Severity

- microsoft CVSS 3.1: 7 `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2023-10-04; federal due date 2023-10-25. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.67% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 77.

## Sources

- [Windows CNG Key Isolation Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-28229)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-28229](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-28229)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-28229](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28229)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-28229)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-28229/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt