Microsoft Windows up to Server 2025 Shell protection mechanism
| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | $5k-$25k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown function of the component Shell. The manipulation leads to protection mechanism. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-21510. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.
Details
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Windows. This issue affects an unknown code block of the component Shell. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a protection mechanism vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-693. The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:
Protection mechanism failure in Windows Shell allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.
The weakness was disclosed 02/10/2026 as confirmed security update guide (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at msrc.microsoft.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-21510. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. 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 03/18/2026).
It is declared as attacked. The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 02/10/2026 with a due date of 03/03/2026:
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.
The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Zero-Day.cz (1070). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 10 21H2
- 10 22H2
- 10 1607
- 10 1809
- 11 23H2
- 11 24H2
- 11 25H2
- 11 26H1
- Server 2012
- Server 2012 R2
- Server 2016
- Server 2019
- Server 2022
- Server 2022 23H2
- Server 2025
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/
- Product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7
VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 8.8
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔒
CNA Base Score: 8.8
CNA Vector (Microsoft): 🔒
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
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| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Protection mechanismCWE: CWE-693
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
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 |
Zero-Day.cz: 🔒
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: PatchStatus: 🔍
Reaction Time: 🔒
0-Day Time: 🔒
Exposure Time: 🔒
Timeline
02/10/2026 VulDB entry created02/10/2026 Advisory disclosed
02/10/2026 Countermeasure disclosed
03/18/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: microsoft.comProduct: microsoft.com
Advisory: msrc.microsoft.com
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-21510 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-21510
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-345287
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215
Entry
Created: 02/10/2026 19:29Updated: 03/18/2026 13:33
Changes: 02/10/2026 19:29 (33), 02/10/2026 19:32 (36), 02/11/2026 00:02 (16), 02/11/2026 17:32 (12), 03/18/2026 13:33 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
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