# CVE-2022-21919: Microsoft Windows User Profile Service Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-21919-microsoft-windows-user-profile-service-privilege-escalation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-04-25. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-21919 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-04-25

The Microsoft Windows User Profile Service contains a privilege escalation vulnerability caused by improper link resolution before file access (link following). An authenticated attacker with local access could exploit this to gain elevated system privileges.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-21919 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2022-21919 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 25 April 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2022-21919?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 25 April 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows 10 1507, 1607, 1809, 1909, 20H2, 21H1, 21H2; Microsoft Windows 11 21H2; Microsoft Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, 20H2; Microsoft Windows 7 SP1; and 1 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-21919?** A patch was published on 2022-04-25: Microsoft released security updates to address this vulnerability. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2022-21919 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-21919?** 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 1507, 1607, 1809, 1909, 20H2, 21H1, 21H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 21H2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, 20H2
- Microsoft Windows 7 SP1
- Microsoft Windows 8.1 all

## Timeline

- 2022-04-25: disclosed
- 2022-04-25: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-04-25: patched: Microsoft released security updates to address this vulnerability.
- exploited: Confirmed by CISA to be exploited in the wild.

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