# CVE-2002-0367: Microsoft Windows Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2002-0367-microsoft-windows-privilege-escalation-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-03-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2002-0367 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-03

The smss.exe debugging subsystem in Microsoft Windows NT and 2000 fails to properly authenticate programs connecting to other processes. Local attackers can exploit this by duplicating a handle to a privileged process, allowing for elevation of privilege to administrator or SYSTEM levels.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2002-0367 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2002-0367 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2002-0367?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 3 March 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows 2000; Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2002-0367?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2002-0367 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2002-0367?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows 2000
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

## Timeline

- 2002-05-22: advisory: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-024 published.
- 2022-03-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
- 2022-03-03: disclosed: NVD publication date.

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