Code execution via unchecked chained Internet Shortcuts
Published Feb 13, 2024 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Security feature bypass in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to evade SmartScreen checks through a crafted Internet Shortcut file. Windows omits the required security check when a .URL file follows another Internet Shortcut, allowing the chained target to execute without the expected warning. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file or visit a malicious page, after which code runs with that user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Security feature bypass in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to evade SmartScreen checks through a crafted Internet Shortcut file. Windows omits the required security check when a .URL file follows another Internet Shortcut, allowing the chained target to execute without the expected warning. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file or visit a malicious page, after which code runs with that user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-21412
- Published
- Feb 13, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-693, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 13, 2024Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing
- Feb 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.5458
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.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listingknown exploited catalog
- Water Hydra DarkMe delivery campaignthreat actor
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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