# CVE-2022-44698: Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-44698-microsoft-defender-smartscreen-security-feature-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-12-13. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-44698 · Severity: critical · CVSS 5.4 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-12-13

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious file that bypasses security warnings when downloaded and opened by a user.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-44698 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2022-44698 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 13 December 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2022-44698?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 5.4, published 13 December 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows 10 1607, 1809, 20H2, 21H1, 21H2, 22H2; Microsoft Windows 11 21H2, 22H2; Microsoft Windows Server 2016; Microsoft Windows Server 2019; and 1 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-44698?** A patch was published on 2022-12-13T00:00:00+00:00. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2022-44698 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-44698?** Check whether you run Microsoft Defender. 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 10 1607, 1809, 20H2, 21H1, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022

## Timeline

- 2022-12-13: disclosed
- 2022-12-13: patched
- 2022-12-13: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-12-13: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild at time of publication.

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- [Microsoft Defender out-of-bounds read information disclosure](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105726-out-of-bounds-read-in-microsoft-defender-allows-an-authorized)
- [Microsoft Defender Malware Protection Engine elevation of privilege](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-69414-microsoft-defender-malware-protection-engine-elevation-of)
- [Microsoft Defender heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-45584-microsoft-defender-heap-buffer-overflow)
- [Microsoft Defender denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-45498-microsoft-defender-denial-of-service)