Windows Print Spooler Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (CVE-2022-41073) Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTWindows 7, 8.1, 10, 11 and Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022 with the Print Spooler service enabled
A local authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges, leading to complete system compromise
Apply the official Microsoft cumulative security updates immediately, or disable the Print Spooler service on non-printing server infrastructures
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The primary remediation is to apply the official cumulative security updates provided by Microsoft. You can force-install the latest updates using the following PowerShell commands:
# Install and run Windows Update module to apply the latest cumulative patches
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force -SkipPublisherCheck
Get-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -Install -AutoReboot2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If patching cannot be applied immediately, disable the Print Spooler service on all non-printing servers (especially Domain Controllers) to mitigate the attack vector.
# Stop the Print Spooler service and set its startup type to Disabled
Stop-Service -Name 'Spooler' -Force
Set-Service -Name 'Spooler' -StartupType Disabled
# Verify that the service is successfully disabled
Get-Service -Name 'Spooler'3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Monitor the system for anomalous child processes spawned by the Print Spooler service, which is a common indicator of compromise (IoC).
# Query Sysmon logs for anomalous child processes spawned by spoolsv.exe
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{
LogName='Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational';
Id=1
} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object {
$_.Message -like '*spoolsv.exe*' -and ($_.Message -like '*cmd.exe*' -or $_.Message -like '*powershell.exe*')
} | Format-List TimeCreated, MessageBlock Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2022-41073) is a local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler (spoolsv.exe) service. The Print Spooler is a highly privileged (SYSTEM) service responsible for managing print jobs and printer drivers. A flaw exists in how the service handles memory operations, specifically leading to an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) or improper memory corruption. This allows a low-privileged local process to corrupt memory structures within the high-privileged service context.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must first gain local access to the target system with low-privileged user credentials. The attacker then executes a specially crafted application that sends malicious API requests to the Print Spooler service. By triggering the memory corruption vulnerability during printer driver or spool file operations, the attacker can hijack the execution flow of the spoolsv.exe process. This allows the execution of arbitrary payloads under the SYSTEM context, granting the attacker full administrative control.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
As this vulnerability is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, it has been actively exploited in the wild. In an Active Directory (AD) environment, if this service is left enabled on Domain Controllers or critical file servers, attackers can leverage it for rapid lateral movement and domain-wide compromise, posing a severe threat to business operations and data confidentiality.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2022-41073)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2022-41073 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2022-41073 is rated CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 2.6%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2022-41073?
Primary impacted vendors include microsoft across windows, windows_server. Scope summary: All Windows client and server operating systems (including Windows 10, 11, and Windows Server 2016/2019/2022) running an unpatched Print Spooler service
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2022-41073 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply the official Microsoft cumulative security updates immediately, or disable the Print Spooler service on non-printing server infrastructures Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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