# CVE-2021-40450: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation

> An attacker can exploit a flaw in the Win32k component to elevate privileges on affected Windows systems.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 Apr 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Oct 2021
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v7qc-rhmv-f6j4

## What is CVE-2021-40450?

CVE-2021-40450 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1809, published on 13 Oct 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-40450?

It affects 10 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 10 1809, Microsoft Windows 10 1909, Microsoft Windows 10 2004, Microsoft Windows 10 20h2, Microsoft Windows 10 21h1, Microsoft Windows 11 21h2, Microsoft Windows Server 2004, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 20h2.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-40450?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-40450 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 16 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2021-40450 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-40450 in the wild since at least 25 Apr 2022.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 10 1809

- [CVE-2024-29988](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29988/): Microsoft SmartScreen Prompt Security Feature Bypass (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-21412](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21412/): Microsoft Windows Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-62221](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-62221/): Microsoft Windows Use After Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-30400](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-30400/): Microsoft Windows DWM Core Library Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-21338](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21338/): Microsoft Windows Kernel Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-40450 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-40450 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1809, published on 13 Oct 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-40450 in the wild since at least 25 Apr 2022.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 10 1809. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40450/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40450/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40450
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40450
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-40450

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40450/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.