Microsoft Windows up to Server 2022 Win32k privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.7$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Microsoft Windows. Impacted is an unknown function of the component Win32k. The manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2021-40450. The attack can be executed remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System). Affected is an unknown code block of the component Win32k. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was released 10/12/2021 as confirmed security guidance (Website). The advisory is available at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2021-40450. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/30/2025).

It is declared as attacked. This issue was added on 04/25/2022 to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a due date of 05/16/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7

VulDB Base Score: 8.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 7.8
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (Microsoft): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privilege escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Attacked

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

KEV Added: 🔍
KEV Due: 🔍
KEV Remediation: 🔍
KEV Ransomware: 🔍
KEV Notice: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

09/02/2021 🔍
10/12/2021 +40 days 🔍
10/12/2021 +0 days 🔍
10/12/2021 +0 days 🔍
10/30/2025 +1479 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2021-40450 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2021-40450
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-184266
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215

Entryinfo

Created: 10/12/2021 21:27
Updated: 10/30/2025 21:41
Changes: 10/12/2021 21:27 (33), 10/12/2021 21:31 (22), 10/15/2021 10:21 (2), 04/25/2024 18:34 (29), 09/21/2024 22:51 (1), 03/08/2025 01:36 (28), 10/30/2025 21:41 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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