Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw can let an attacker-supplied file evade Windows’ Mark of the Web protections. A user must interact with the content, but successful exploitation can weaken security warnings and enable limited data or system modification. CISA lists the vulnerability as known exploited.
Executive priority
Treat remediation as high priority despite the medium CVSS score because CISA confirms known exploitation. Accelerate patch verification on user-facing Windows endpoints, then cover affected servers. Track exceptions explicitly and retain layered attachment and download controls.
Technical view
CVE-2022-41091 is a Windows Mark of the Web security-feature bypass affecting the listed Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server releases. Its CVSS 3.1 score is 5.4: network-delivered, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required, with low integrity and availability impact and no stated confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure exists where listed Windows versions remain without Microsoft’s applicable security update. User workstations handling downloaded files, email attachments, or other externally supplied content are the clearest concern. Servers are affected where users or administrators interact with attacker-controlled files.
Exploitation context
CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing supports exploitation in the wild. The supplied evidence does not identify specific campaigns, exploitation volume, public exploit availability, or attribution. User interaction is required, limiting fully automated exploitation but preserving meaningful phishing and social-engineering risk.
Researcher notes
The classification is CWE-863, indicating an authorization-control problem. Available evidence establishes a Mark of the Web bypass, required user interaction, affected Microsoft products, an official patch reference, and known exploitation. It does not establish exploit mechanics, bypassed application behavior, campaign details, or whether every listed build has identical practical exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Microsoft’s applicable security update for CVE-2022-41091 across affected Windows systems.
- Prioritize user endpoints and servers where personnel handle externally supplied files.
- Use Microsoft’s advisory to confirm product-specific update requirements and deployment guidance.
- Maintain layered controls for email attachments, downloads, endpoint detection, and user-facing file warnings.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems against the Windows products and versions listed in Microsoft’s advisory.
- Verify the applicable CVE-2022-41091 security update is installed and deployment failures are resolved.
- Review security telemetry for suspicious externally sourced files and unusual post-interaction activity.
- Confirm endpoint and email controls inspect downloaded files and attachments without relying solely on Mark of the Web.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-863: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-41091 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C2.82.5microsoftVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- Added to KEVCISA-ADP
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities metadata lists this CVE as known exploited.
- ADP timelineCISA-ADP
CVE-2022-41091 added to CISA KEV
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2022-11-08T00:00:00.000Z: CVE-2022-41091 added to CISA KEV
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Windows Mark of the Web Security Feature Bypass VulnerabilityCVE reference, microsoft · vendor-advisory, patch
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-41091CVE reference, CISA-ADP · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Incorrect Authorization
Incorrect Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.