Vulnerability

CVE-2021-40444

High· 8.8KEVEXPLOITCVSS8.8EPSS94%

.rules3/5

Microsoft MSHTML Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Microsoft MSHTML contains a unspecified vulnerability that allows for remote code execution.

Threat signal

100/100

Severe

Severity

high

CVSS

8.8

EPSS

94%

Active

KEV

CISA KEV — actively exploited

Ransomware: Known1669d overdue

AffectedMicrosoft — MSHTML

Added to KEV

2021-11-03

Federal patch due (BOD 22-01)

2021-11-17

Required action (CISA verbatim)

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Vendor advisory + references

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40444

CISA description: “Microsoft MSHTML contains a unspecified vulnerability that allows for remote code execution.”

CVSS

v3.1Open in FIRST calculator →

8.8/ 10HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L

Attack VectorNetworkExploitable remotely over the internet — no local access needed.
Attack ComplexityLowNo special conditions — exploit works reliably.
Privileges RequiredNoneUnauthenticated — no credentials needed.
User InteractionRequiredRequires user action (click, file open, etc).
ScopeChangedImpact extends beyond the vulnerable component (e.g. sandbox escape).
Confidentiality ImpactLowSome data disclosure; attacker doesn't fully control what.
Integrity ImpactHighTotal compromise of integrity — full data modification possible.
Availability ImpactLowReduced performance / interruptions.

EPSS

Exploit prediction · 30-day horizonFIRST.org →

94.3%

probability of exploitation in next 30 days

p100

higher than 100% of all CVEs

3-day trend↑ 0pp

Statistically about to be weaponized — top-tier triage urgency.

Vendor VEX

No VEX statements published for CVE-2021-40444. Vendors publish VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) to assert per-product whether a CVE is actually exploitable in their distribution.

SSVCAct

Active exploitation with total impact on essential/support systems

exploitation: active
automatable: yes
impact: total
mission: support

Lifecycle

2021-11-03Added to CISA KEVransomware: Known
2021-11-03Public exploit observedmetasploit
2021-11-03Published
2021-11-17Federal patch due (BOD 22-01)
2026-06-12Last modified1 source

Mentions in news & research

research:huntressThreat Advisory: Hackers Are Exploiting CVE-2021-40444 | Huntress2021-09-09

No source-event history recorded yet. New revisions will appear here as ingestors re-fetch this CVE.