Microsoft Windows Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
Microsoft — Windows 10 Version 1607
Improper privilege management in Windows Remote Desktop allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
7.8
3.8%
Vector breakdown
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
- Published
- Feb 10, 2026
- Modified
- Aug 19, 2026
- Added to KEV
- Feb 10, 2026
- Federal patch due
- Mar 3, 2026
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Weakness classification
Proof-of-concept & exploitation references
Weaponization
Public repositories whose name or description references CVE-2026-21533, found via a live GitHub search at request time. These are community-sourced signals, not a verified working exploit — cross-check each one before relying on it, and treat higher star counts and recent activity as (weak) corroboration, not proof.
No public GitHub repositories referencing CVE-2026-21533 were found at last check. Absence here is not proof no exploit exists — see the references below for vendor advisories and write-ups.
References
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2026-21533?
Improper privilege management in Windows Remote Desktop allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
How severe is CVE-2026-21533?
CVE-2026-21533 has a CVSS base score of 7.8 out of 10 (CVSS 3.1).
Is CVE-2026-21533 actively exploited in the wild?
Yes. CVE-2026-21533 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added Feb 10, 2026, meaning CISA has confirmed evidence of active exploitation.
What is the EPSS score for CVE-2026-21533?
3.8% - meaning FIRST.org's EPSS model estimates a 3.8% probability this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within 30 days (89% percentile among all scored CVEs).
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-21533?
CVE-2026-21533 is classified under CWE-269 (CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management).
Cross-checked against
Impactr finds and proves whether CVE-2026-21533 — or flaws like it — are actually reachable in your own web apps and APIs, with a reproducible exploit as evidence.