VDB-184323 · CVE-2021-41357 · GCVE-0-2021-41357

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.
7.8	$5k-$25k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2022. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component Win32k. Performing a manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability was named CVE-2021-41357. The attack may be initiated remotely. In addition, an exploit is available. To fix this issue, it is recommended to deploy a patch.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2022 (Operating System). This affects some unknown processing of the component Win32k. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was presented 10/12/2021 as confirmed security guidance (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2021-41357. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/30/2025).

It is declared as attacked. The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 04/25/2022 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.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Operating System

Vendor

Microsoft

Name

Windows

Version

License

commercial

Website

Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/
Product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.8

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

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

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

Timelineinfo

09/17/2021 🔍
10/12/2021 +25 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-2021-41357 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2021-41357
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-184323
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215

Entryinfo

Created: 10/12/2021 22:14
Updated: 10/30/2025 21:41
Changes: 10/12/2021 22:14 (33), 10/12/2021 22:18 (22), 10/15/2021 15:20 (2), 04/25/2024 18:41 (29), 09/21/2024 22:51 (1), 03/08/2025 01:36 (27), 10/30/2025 21:41 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103