Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Windows flaw lets a malicious Internet Shortcut file bypass a security protection. Successful abuse requires user interaction but can seriously compromise data confidentiality and integrity. CISA lists the vulnerability as known exploited, so affected Windows endpoints and servers should be treated as an urgent remediation priority.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority patching action because exploitation is documented by CISA and successful abuse can compromise sensitive information and system integrity. Establish an expedited deadline, measure affected-asset coverage, and require documented handling for systems that cannot be updated promptly.
Technical view
CVE-2024-21412 is a CWE-693 security-feature bypass affecting listed Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022 releases. CVSS 3.1 rates it 8.1: network-accessible, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, with high confidentiality and integrity impact but no rated availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure exists where listed Windows versions remain without Microsoft's applicable security update and users can interact with untrusted Internet Shortcut files. The bundle does not identify precise vulnerable configurations beyond the named releases or provide corrected build numbers, so organizations should compare endpoint patch status directly with Microsoft's advisory.
Exploitation context
Active exploitation is supported by CVE-2024-21412's inclusion in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The supplied evidence does not describe observed campaigns, threat actors, delivery methods, exploitation volume, or technical exploit mechanics. User interaction is required according to the CVSS vector.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports a security-feature bypass involving Internet Shortcut files, an 8.1 CVSS score, user interaction, and known exploitation. It does not establish exploit prevalence, specific attack chains, affected applications beyond the listed Windows products, precise fixed builds, or vendor-endorsed workarounds. Consult the Microsoft advisory for release-specific patch details.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Microsoft's applicable security update to every affected Windows release.
- Prioritize affected systems handling sensitive data or used by privileged personnel.
- Check Microsoft guidance for any release-specific remediation or prerequisites.
- Restrict untrusted Internet Shortcut files until affected systems are updated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints and servers running the affected Windows releases.
- Compare installed updates and build status against Microsoft's CVE advisory.
- Verify Microsoft's applicable update is installed successfully across the fleet.
- Track exceptions and confirm unsupported or unpatched systems receive compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-693: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-21412 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C2.85.2microsoftVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- Added to KEVCISA-ADP
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities metadata lists this CVE as known exploited.
- ADP timelineCISA-ADP
CVE-2024-21412 added to CISA KEV
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2024-02-13T00:00:00.000Z: CVE-2024-21412 added to CISA KEV
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass VulnerabilityCVE reference, microsoft · vendor-advisory, patch
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-21412CVE reference, CISA-ADP · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Protection Mechanism Failure
Protection Mechanism Failure represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.