Code execution via crafted HEVC file
Published Mar 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Remote code execution in Microsoft HEVC Video Extensions before 1.0.40204.0 allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted video file. Microsoft has not published the decoder component or operation responsible for the flaw, so the precise parsing mistake remains undisclosed. Exploitation requires a user to obtain and open or preview malicious HEVC content in an application using the extension, after which attacker-controlled code can run with that application's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Remote code execution in Microsoft HEVC Video Extensions before 1.0.40204.0 allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted video file. Microsoft has not published the decoder component or operation responsible for the flaw, so the precise parsing mistake remains undisclosed. Exploitation requires a user to obtain and open or preview malicious HEVC content in an application using the extension, after which attacker-controlled code can run with that application's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-27047
- Published
- Mar 11, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- HEVC Video Extensions
- Classifications
- T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=1.0.0 <1.0.40204.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo