CVE-2023-35628: 
vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2023-35628 is a Windows MSHTML Platform Remote Code Execution Vulnerability that was disclosed on December 12, 2023. This vulnerability affects various versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server installations. The vulnerability has received a high severity CVSS score of 8.1, indicating its significant potential impact (NVD).

The vulnerability stems from a flaw in how Windows parses file paths, specifically within the CreateUri function. The core issue lies in the CrackUrlFile function's handling of file paths, where it improperly manages memory pointers after reallocation. The vulnerability can be triggered through specially crafted file scheme URLs, such as 'file://./UNC/C:/Akamai.com/file.wav', which leads to incorrect memory management (Security Online).

The vulnerability presents significant risks as it enables zero-click attacks on Outlook clients and can potentially lead to system instability and compromise. When successfully exploited, it can cause Windows Explorer to crash and potentially allow attackers to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data (Security Online).

Microsoft has addressed this vulnerability in their December 2023 Patch Tuesday updates. Organizations using Exchange mail servers that have been updated with the March 2023 patch have additional protection for Outlook users. It is strongly recommended to apply these security updates immediately to protect systems from potential exploitation (Security Online).