---
id: "CVE-2022-44698"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2022-44698"]
title: "Windows SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.4
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Defender", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 10 1607", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.5582"], "affected": "< 10.0.14393.5582", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 10 1809", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.3770"], "affected": "< 10.0.17763.3770", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 10 20h2", "fixed": ["10.0.19042.2364"], "affected": "< 10.0.19042.2364", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 10 21h1", "fixed": ["10.0.19043.2364"], "affected": "< 10.0.19043.2364", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 10 21h2", "fixed": ["10.0.19044.2364"], "affected": "< 10.0.19044.2364", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 10 22h2", "fixed": ["10.0.19045.2364"], "affected": "< 10.0.19045.2364", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 11 21h2", "fixed": ["10.0.22000.1335"], "affected": "< 10.0.22000.1335", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.5582"], "affected": "< 10.0.14393.5582", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.3770"], "affected": "< 10.0.17763.3770", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.1366"], "affected": "< 10.0.20348.1366", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "microsoft-defender", "ransomware", "smartscreen", "vendor", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2022-12-13T00:00:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-44698", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-44698", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# Windows SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen has a security feature bypass that lets a crafted malicious file evade Mark of the Web warnings. CISA lists it as exploited in the wild and tied to ransomware campaigns.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Defender affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows 10 1607 affected < 10.0.14393.5582 fixed 10.0.14393.5582
- vendor:microsoft windows 10 1809 affected < 10.0.17763.3770 fixed 10.0.17763.3770
- vendor:microsoft windows 10 20h2 affected < 10.0.19042.2364 fixed 10.0.19042.2364
- vendor:microsoft windows 10 21h1 affected < 10.0.19043.2364 fixed 10.0.19043.2364
- vendor:microsoft windows 10 21h2 affected < 10.0.19044.2364 fixed 10.0.19044.2364
- vendor:microsoft windows 10 22h2 affected < 10.0.19045.2364 fixed 10.0.19045.2364
- vendor:microsoft windows 11 21h2 affected < 10.0.22000.1335 fixed 10.0.22000.1335
- vendor:microsoft windows server 2016 affected < 10.0.14393.5582 fixed 10.0.14393.5582
- vendor:microsoft windows server 2019 affected < 10.0.17763.3770 fixed 10.0.17763.3770
- vendor:microsoft windows server 2022 affected < 10.0.20348.1366 fixed 10.0.20348.1366

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft update for CVE-2022-44698 per vendor instructions, as CISA requires.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-44698
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-44698

## From the sources

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

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