CVE-2022-26796 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Understanding CVE-2022-26796

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler that allows for an elevation of privilege.

What is CVE-2022-26796?

The CVE-2022-26796 is a high severity vulnerability that affects Windows Print Spooler, enabling threat actors to elevate privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2022-26796

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH according to the CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8. It can result in unauthorized access and control over affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-26796

This section highlights the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies within the Windows Print Spooler, allowing attackers to elevate privileges on compromised systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10 Version 1809, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
Windows 10 Version 1909, Windows 10 Version 21H1, Windows Server 2022
Windows 10 Version 20H2, Windows Server version 20H2, Windows 11 version 21H2
Windows 10 Version 21H2, Windows 10 Version 1507, Windows 10 Version 1607
Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
Windows 7, Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation), Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors can exploit this vulnerability with local access, potentially leading to unauthorized system control.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable Windows Print Spooler on systems where it is not needed
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update systems with the latest security patches
Conduct security awareness training to educate users on potential threats

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary security updates provided by Microsoft to mitigate the CVE-2022-26796 vulnerability.