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CVE-2021-40441: Windows Media Center Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 0.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2021-12-15 · updated 2026-06-17

Description

Windows Media Center Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Affected products

• Microsoft Windows 7: sp1
• Microsoft Windows 8.1: all versions
• Microsoft Windows RT 8.1: all versions
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008: r2-sp1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012: r2
• Microsoft Windows 7: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.25796 — fixed in 6.1.7601.25796
• Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.25796 — fixed in 6.1.7601.25796
• Microsoft Windows 8.1: from 6.3.0 before 6.3.9600.20207 — fixed in 6.3.9600.20207
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.25796 — fixed in 6.1.7601.25796
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012: from 6.2.0 before 6.2.9200.23545; from 6.2.0 before 6.2.9200.23540 — fixed in 6.2.9200.23545, 6.2.9200.23540
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2: from 6.3.0 before 6.3.9600.20207 — fixed in 6.3.9600.20207

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft Windows 7 6.1.7601.25796; Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.25796; Microsoft Windows 8.1 6.3.9600.20207; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.25796; Microsoft Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.23545, 6.2.9200.23540; Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.20207. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-40441
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-40441

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