# CVE-2023-32049: Microsoft Windows Defender SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-32049-microsoft-windows-defender-smartscreen-security-feature-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-07-11. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-32049 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-07-11

Microsoft Windows Defender SmartScreen contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that allows an attacker to bypass the 'Open File - Security Warning' prompt. Successful exploitation requires a user to open a specially crafted file, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-32049 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2023-32049 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 11 July 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2023-32049?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 11 July 2023.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-32049?** A patch was published on 2023-07-11T00:00:00+00:00. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2023-32049 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-32049?** 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 10 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022

## Timeline

- 2023-07-11: disclosed
- 2023-07-11: patched
- 2023-07-11: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2023-07-11: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild at time of publication.

## Related threats

- [Windows BitLocker heap buffer overflow with physical attack](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97015-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-windows-bitlocker-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Windows Shell type confusion privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97013-access-of-resource-using-incompatible-type-type-confusion-in)
- [Microsoft Windows VMSwitch out-of-bounds read privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97002-out-of-bounds-read-in-windows-vmswitch-allows-an-authorized)
- [Microsoft Windows USM Communication Manager null pointer dereference](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97000-null-pointer-dereference-in-windows-usm-communication-manager)
- [Microsoft Windows Winsock use after free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96994-use-after-free-in-winsock-allows-an-authorized-attacker-to)