CVE-2021-42278 kev+ ransomware in the critical feed json
Active Directory Domain Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
published 2021-11-10 4 y ago modified 2026-08-19 2 mo ago also EUVD-2021-29254
- cvss
- 7.5
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Exploited
- added 2022-04-11, used in ransomware
- epss
- 73.3%
- EPSS 73.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.4%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
Active Directory Domain Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Patch / fix
cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.25769
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) 6.1.7601.25769
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 6.0.6003.21282
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) 6.0.6003.21282
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.23517
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.23517
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.20174
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.20174
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.4770
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.4770
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.2300
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.2300
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.350
- Microsoft Windows Server version 2004 10.0.19041.1348
- Microsoft Windows Server version 20H2 10.0.19042.1348
Timeline
- CISA SSVC: exploitation active
- Published
- Added to CISA KEV
- CISA patch deadline
Known exploited
- Added
- 4 y ago
- Patch by
- 2022-05-02 (4 y ago)
- Ransomware
- Known to be used in ransomware campaigns
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Vendor, product
- Microsoft, Active Directory
- CISA name
- Microsoft Active Directory Domain Services Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Ransomware
Groups reported to have exploited it in intrusions.
- Conti ransomware gang
- BlackBasta ransomware gang
- CosmicBeetle affiliate
- Fog ransomware gang
reported by thedfirreport.comcisa.govwelivesecurity.comthedfirreport.com
Ransomware Vulnerability Matrix by BushidoUK (github.com/BushidoUK/Ransomware-Vulnerability-Matrix), reformatted per CVE. CC BY 4.0
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- Active, exploited in the wild
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 5 y ago
Exploit prediction
73.30% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.4% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C |
| CNA | 3.1 | 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 6.5 | AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P |
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022
- Microsoft Windows Server version 2004
- Microsoft Windows Server version 20H2
References
-
msrc.microsoft.com
/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42278
vendor-advisory, patch
-
portal.msrc.microsoft.com
/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-42278
patch, vendor-advisory
-
cisa.gov
/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-42278
government-resource, us-government-resource
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2021-42278
- NVD CVE-2021-42278
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