CVE-2026-21533
Microsoft Windows Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability - [Actively Exploited]
Description
Improper privilege management in Windows Remote Desktop allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
INFO
Published Date :
Feb. 10, 2026, 6:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
Feb. 10, 2026, 9:51 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
For the benefit of the cybersecurity community and network defenders—and to help every organization better manage vulnerabilities and keep pace with threat activity—CISA maintains the authoritative source of vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild.
Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services contains an improper privilege management vulnerability that could allow an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21533 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-21533
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-21533
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
No affected product recoded yet
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] |
Solution
- Apply updates for Windows Remote Desktop.
- Review and enforce least privilege principles.
- Limit local administrator access.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-21533.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21533 | |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-21533 |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-21533 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-21533
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-21533 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
-
CybersecurityNews
Windows Remote Desktop Services 0-Day Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild to Escalate Privileges
Windows Remote Desktop Services 0-Day Vulnerability Microsoft has patched CVE-2026-21533, a zero-day elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows Remote Desktop Services (RDS) that attackers are ex ... Read more
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TheCyberThrone
Microsoft Patch Tuesday February 2026
Microsoft’s February 2026 Patch Tuesday, released on February 9, 2026, addressed 58 vulnerabilities across Windows, Office, and other components, including six actively exploited zero-days.This update ... Read more
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The Register
Microsoft's Valentine's gift to admins: 6 exploited zero-day fixes
What better way to say I love you than with an update? Attackers exploited a whopping six Microsoft bugs as zero-days prior to Redmond releasing software fixes on February's Patch Tuesday. For compari ... Read more
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Zero Day Initiative
The February 2026 Security Update Review
I have survived the biggest Pwn2Own ever, but I’m back in Tokyo for the second Patch Tuesday of 2026. My location never stops Patch Tuesday from coming, so let’s take a look at the latest security pat ... Read more
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CybersecurityNews
Microsoft Patch Tuesday February 2026 – 54 Vulnerabilities Fixed, Including 6 Zero-days
Microsoft Patch Tuesday February 2026 Microsoft released its February 2026 Patch Tuesday updates on February 10, addressing 54 vulnerabilities, including six zero-days across Windows, Office, Azure, a ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-21533 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Feb. 10, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-21533 -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Feb. 10, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description Improper privilege management in Windows Remote Desktop allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-269 Added Reference https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21533