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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2021-1732 Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Win32k contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 7.8, scored by Vendor).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 180310.0.0 to before publication
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 180910.0.0 to before publication
Microsoft Windows Server 201910.0.0 to before publication
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)10.0.0 to before publication
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 190910.0.0 to before publication
Microsoft Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)10.0.0 to before publication

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Microsoft Win32k. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 17 Nov 2021 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2021-1732
  3. CVE record: CVE-2021-1732
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-1732
  6. packetstormsecurity.com/files/161880/Win32k-ConsoleControl-Offset-Confusion.html
  7. packetstormsecurity.com/files/166169/Win32k-ConsoleControl-Offset-Confusion-Privilege-Escalation.htm