Microsoft MSHTML Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVE-2021-40444 is fixed in 42 products on 1 platform, first by KB5005563, released July 13, 2021. It is being exploited: CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on November 3, 2021, with known ransomware use. Patch Radar priority: Patch now.
<p>Microsoft is investigating reports of a remote code execution vulnerability in MSHTML that affects Microsoft Windows. Microsoft is aware of targeted attacks that attempt to exploit this vulnerability by using specially-crafted Microsoft Office documents.</p> <p>An attacker could craft a malicious ActiveX control to be used by a Microsoft Office document that hosts the browser rendering engine. The attacker would then have to convince the user to open the malicious document. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.</p> <p>Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint both provide detection and protections for the known vulnerability. Customers should keep antimalware products up to date. Customers who utilize automatic updates do not need to take additional action. Enterprise customers who manage updates should select the detection build 1.349.22.0 or newer and deploy it across their environments. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint alerts will be displayed as: “Suspicious Cpl File Execution”.</p> <p>Upon completion of this investigation, Microsoft will take the appropriate action to help protect our customers. This may include providing a security update through our monthly release process or providing an out-of-cycle security update, depending on customer needs.</p> <p>Please see the <strong>Mitigations</strong> and <strong>Workaround</strong> sections for important information about steps you can take to protect your system from this vulnerability.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE</strong> September 14, 2021: Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Please see the Security Updates table for the applicable update for your system. We recommend that you install these updates immediately. Please see the FAQ for important information about which updates are applicable to your system.</p>
Where it's fixed
| Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | |||
| Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems | 14393.4651 | KB5005573 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems | 14393.4651 | KB5005573 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems | 17763.2183 | KB5005568 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems | 17763.2183 | KB5005568 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems | 17763.2183 | KB5005568 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems | 18363.1801 | KB5005566 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems | 18363.1801 | KB5005566 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems | 18363.1801 | KB5005566 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 Version 2004 for 32-bit Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 2004 for ARM64-based Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 20H2 for 32-bit Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 20H2 for ARM64-based Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64-based Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 21H1 for 32-bit Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 21H1 for ARM64-based Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64-based Systems | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems | 10240.19060 | KB5005569 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 10 for x64-based Systems | 10240.19060 | KB5005569 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5019958 | Nov 8, 2022 | |
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5005633 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5019958 | Nov 8, 2022 | |
| Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5005633 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems | KB5005627 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems | KB5005613 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems | KB5005627 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems | KB5005613 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows RT 8.1 | KB5005613 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5005633 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) | KB5005633 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | KB5005606 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | KB5005606 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | KB5005606 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | KB5005606 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 | KB5005623 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) | KB5005623 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | KB5005613 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) | KB5005613 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) | KB5005563 | Jul 13, 2021 | |
| Windows Server 2016 | 14393.4651 | KB5005573 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) | 14393.4651 | KB5005573 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows Server 2019 | 17763.2183 | KB5005568 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | 17763.2183 | KB5005568 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows Server 2022 | 20348.230 | KB5005575 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation) | 20348.230 | KB5005575 | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Windows Server, version 2004 (Server Core installation) | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
| Windows Server, version 20H2 (Server Core Installation) | KB5005565 | Sep 14, 2021 | |
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