CVE-2021-42287 [Exploited] | Microsoft Windows Server 2008

CVE-2021-42287 is rated Critical Active Threat (90.7/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 94.01%, 100th percentile). CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2022-04-11) affecting Microsoft / Active Directory. Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2025-11-21	93.30%	94.01%	+0.71%
2	2025-11-18	93.95%	93.30%	-0.65%
3	2025-03-17	—	93.95%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2025-11-21

93.30%

94.01%

+0.71%

2025-11-18

93.95%

93.30%

-0.65%

2025-03-17

—

93.95%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
7.5	3.1	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:H) Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work. Privileges required (PR:L) A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	1.6	5.9	[email protected]
8.8	3.1	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:L) Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup. Privileges required (PR:L) A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	2.8	5.9	[email protected]
6.5	2.0	MEDIUM	`AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P` Click to expand Access vector (AV:N) Can be exploited remotely over network reachability. Access complexity (AC:L) Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable. Authentication (AU:S) A single authentication is required. Confidentiality impact (C:P) Partial confidentiality impact. Integrity impact (I:P) Partial integrity impact. Availability impact (A:P) Partial availability impact.	8.0	6.4	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

7.5

3.1

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H): Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:L): A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H): Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H): They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

1.6

5.9

[email protected]

8.8

3.1

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L): Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L): A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H): Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H): They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

2.8

5.9

[email protected]

6.5

2.0

MEDIUM

AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P Click to expand

Access vector (AV:N): Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:L): Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:S): A single authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P): Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:P): Partial integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P): Partial availability impact.

8.0

6.4

[email protected]

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2021-42287

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
microsoft	windows_server_2008	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2::::::
microsoft	windows_server_2008	r2	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:::::x64:*
microsoft	windows_server_2012	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2016	< 10.0.14393.4770	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016::::::::
microsoft	windows_server_2016	2004	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:2004:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2019	< 10.0.17763.2300	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019::::::::
microsoft	windows_server_2022	< 10.0.20348.350	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::

References for CVE-2021-42287

URL	Tags
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-42287	Patch Vendor Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-42287	US Government Resource

URL

CVE-2021-42287 | Active Directory Domain Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2021-42287

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2021-42287

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2021-42287

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2021-42287

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2021-42287

References for CVE-2021-42287