CVE DATABASE / CVE-2021-42278
CVE-2021-42278
Microsoft Active Directory Domain Services Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
CVSS 7.5 · HIGH
⚠ CISA KEV — ACTIVELY EXPLOITED
RANSOMWARE
On the CISA KEV catalog
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2022-04-11.
Federal remediation due 2022-05-02.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
Active Directory Domain Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 7.5 (HIGH) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | NETWORK |
| Attack complexity | HIGH |
| Privileges required | LOW |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Affected products
Microsoft windows server 2004Microsoft windows server 2008Microsoft windows server 2012Microsoft windows server 2016Microsoft windows server 2019Microsoft windows server 2022Microsoft windows server 20h2
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References
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-42278
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-42278
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2025-10-30. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.