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CVE-2023-21542: Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.0 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2023-01-10 · updated 2026-06-17
• Weakness: CWE-59

Description

Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Affected products

• Microsoft Windows 10 1607: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 7: all versions
• 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 Server 2016: all versions
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019: all versions
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507: from 10.0.10240.0 before 10.0.10240.19685 — fixed in 10.0.10240.19685
• Microsoft Windows 10 1607: from 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.5648 — fixed in 10.0.14393.5648
• Microsoft Windows 7: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.26321 — fixed in 6.1.7601.26321
• Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.26321 — fixed in 6.1.7601.26321
• Microsoft Windows 8.1: from 6.3.0 before 6.3.9600.20778 — fixed in 6.3.9600.20778
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: from 6.1.7601.0 before 6.1.7601.26321 — fixed in 6.1.7601.26321
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: from 6.0.6003.0 before 6.0.6003.21872 — fixed in 6.0.6003.21872
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012: from 6.2.9200.0 before 6.2.9200.24075 — fixed in 6.2.9200.24075
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2: from 6.3.9600.0 before 6.3.9600.20778 — fixed in 6.3.9600.20778
• Microsoft Windows Server 2016: from 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.5648 — fixed in 10.0.14393.5648

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507 10.0.10240.19685; Microsoft Windows 10 1607 10.0.14393.5648; Microsoft Windows 7 6.1.7601.26321; Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.26321; Microsoft Windows 8.1 6.3.9600.20778; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.26321; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 6.0.6003.21872; Microsoft Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.24075; Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.20778; Microsoft Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.5648. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21542
• https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21542

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