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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchVaronis Threat Labs disclosed four ways Windows programs could be induced to authenticate to a remote resource and expose an NTLMv2 authentication hash: one Outlook calendar-sharing issue and three techniques involving Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA) or File Explorer. The Outlook issue, CVE-2023-35636, was patched in Microsoft’s December 12, 2023 updates, according to Varonis. Microsoft closed the separate WPA and File Explorer reports as moderate severity, but that status alone does not establish that those behaviors are patched or remain exploitable on current Windows versions.
What an NTLMv2 hash leak means
NTLMv2 is an authentication protocol. In the techniques described by Varonis Threat Labs, a program could be directed to a remote, attacker-controlled resource and attempt to authenticate there. That exchange can expose an authentication hash. It is not the same as revealing the user’s plaintext password, and exposure does not prove an account was compromised.
With a captured hash, an attacker may attempt offline password guessing or a relay attack. Varonis does not establish that every captured hash can be cracked or successfully relayed; outcomes depend on factors such as password strength and the target environment’s controls.
How the four reported paths differ
| Application or path | How Varonis described it | Interaction or handling | Reported status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlook calendar sharing | Crafted sharing headers could direct the calendar-sharing flow to an attacker-controlled machine. | In Varonis’s example, the recipient interacts with the “Open this iCal” button; Outlook then attempts to retrieve a configuration file and authenticates. | Associated with CVE-2023-35636; Varonis says Microsoft issued a patch on December 12, 2023. |
| Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA) | A WPA URI-handler route could prompt an authentication attempt to a remote resource. | Exposure depends on WPA being present and on how the URI is handled. Varonis notes WPA is associated with Windows Performance Toolkit and software development tooling. | Varonis says Microsoft closed this separate report as moderate severity. That does not by itself establish patch status. |
File Explorer: subquery |
A search-ms parameter combination could direct Explorer toward a remote location. |
URI and parameter handling are involved; Varonis presented the route as a research example. | Varonis says Microsoft closed the File Explorer reports as moderate severity. Current behavior is not established by that label. |
File Explorer: crumb |
A second search-ms parameter combination could direct Explorer toward a remote location. |
URI and parameter handling are involved; Varonis presented the route as a research example. | Same File Explorer report status; it should not be read as proof of a fix or of current exploitability. |
Varonis published its disclosure on January 18, 2024, and updated it on February 2, 2024. Its examples describe reported techniques, not proof that every supported Windows build behaves the same way today. The independent SecurityWeek summary was published January 22, 2024. Varonis Threat Labs’ technical account and SecurityWeek’s report cover the disclosure.
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What users and administrators should do
Confirm the Outlook patch
For CVE-2023-35636, check that the applicable Microsoft December 12, 2023 security update or a later update is installed on affected systems. Use Microsoft’s current update guidance for the exact Windows and Office deployment; the Varonis disclosure identifies the patch date but does not provide a current version-by-version status.
Reduce outbound NTLM authentication
Varonis recommends restricting outgoing NTLM where the deployed Windows release supports it, and preferring Kerberos while limiting NTLM at network and application layers where feasible. These controls can disrupt legacy systems that rely on NTLM, so administrators should inventory dependencies and test policy changes before broad enforcement.
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Enable SMB signing as a layer
SMB signing is another control recommended by Varonis. It can help defend against certain SMB relay scenarios, but it is not a universal fix for every way an application might disclose an NTLMv2 hash. Defaults and available settings vary by Windows version; consult Microsoft’s current documentation and validate the configuration on the systems being managed.
Review suspicious URI handling
Because the reported WPA and Explorer routes involve URI handling, security teams can review unexpected WPA-related or search-ms links as part of their defensive monitoring. The subquery and crumb names are useful indicators for investigation, not proof that a particular link is malicious. Avoid opening unsolicited links that trigger applications or point to unfamiliar remote locations.
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What the disclosure does—and does not—show
The Outlook item had a named CVE and, according to Varonis, a patch date. The WPA and File Explorer reports were described separately and closed by Microsoft as moderate severity. That reported classification is not equivalent to confirmed patching, and the 2024 disclosure does not establish the present-day behavior of every supported Windows build. Administrators should consult current Microsoft guidance for their specific versions rather than infer status from the original report.
Most importantly, a hash exposure opportunity is not the same as a confirmed compromise. The reported chain gives an attacker a chance to try guessing or relay techniques; it does not demonstrate that a user’s plaintext password was disclosed or that every captured hash can be reused successfully.
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