---
id: "CVE-2021-31956"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2021-31956"]
title: "Microsoft Windows: Microsoft Windows NTFS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.22273
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Windows", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["non-windows"]
published_at: "2021-06-08T23:15:08+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-31956", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-31956", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31956", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Microsoft Windows: Microsoft Windows NTFS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows NTFS, the file system driver, has an unspecified flaw that lets a crafted application raise its privileges. An attacker who can run code on the machine can gain higher privileges, and CISA lists it as exploited in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Windows affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft update for CVE-2021-31956 per vendor instructions (CISA KEV required action).

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-31956
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-31956
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31956

## From the sources

Microsoft Windows New Technology File System (NTFS) contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows attackers to escalate privileges via a specially crafted application.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_