Junglewise Threat Intelligence

CVE-2021-40449: Microsoft Windows Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2021-40449 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-17

Technologies: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows 11, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Vendors: Microsoft.

Executive brief

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Windows Win32k component (specifically involving NtGdiResetDC) allows an authenticated local attacker to escalate privileges. The vulnerability has been observed being exploited in the wild.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows 10 up to (excluding) 10.0.10240.19086
  • Microsoft Windows 11 up to (excluding) 10.0.22000.258
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2022 up to (excluding) 10.0.20348.288
  • Microsoft Windows 7 SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2019

Timeline

  • 2021-11-17: disclosed
  • 2021-11-17: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
  • 2021-11-17: patched

Related threats