CVE-2022-21961

Code execution through undisclosed ReFS flaw

Published Jan 11, 2022 · Updated Jan 2, 2025

Remote code execution in Microsoft Windows ReFS allows physically proximate attackers to execute code through an undisclosed flaw. Microsoft has not disclosed the faulty ReFS parser locus or the malformed structure that triggers unsafe processing. Physical access to attach attacker-controlled ReFS media is required; successful exploitation compromises the affected Windows system.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.74%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Remote code execution in Microsoft Windows ReFS allows physically proximate attackers to execute code through an undisclosed flaw. Microsoft has not disclosed the faulty ReFS parser locus or the malformed structure that triggers unsafe processing. Physical access to attach attacker-controlled ReFS media is required; successful exploitation compromises the affected Windows system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21961
Published
Jan 11, 2022
Updated
Jan 2, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 11, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 2, 2025Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19177

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19177
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.2452
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H1version=10.0.0 <10.0.19043.1466
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1909version=10.0.0 <10.0.18363.2037
Microsoft · Windows 8.1version=6.3.0 <6.3.9600.20246
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.4886
Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.434
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.23584
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.23584
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19043.0 <10.0.19044.1466
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.4886
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.1466
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.20246
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.2452
Microsoft · Windows Server version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.1466
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.4886
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.469
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.2452; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.2452
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.20246

Published CVSS scores

6.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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

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Your stack

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