CISA Adds Exploited Windows CLFS Privilege Escalation CVE-2021-43226 to KEV: Mandatory Patch by Oct 27, 2025

CISA added Microsoft Windows privilege escalation vulnerability CVE-2021-43226 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on October 6, 2025, urging immediate patching due to active exploitation. The flaw in the Common Log File System (CLFS) Driver allows local authenticated attackers to elevate privileges to SYSTEM level via buffer overflows triggered by malicious CLFS log files, requiring only standard user access—ideal for post-initial-breach escalation in enterprises.


It impacts Windows 10/11 and Servers 2016/2019/2022, with proof-of-concept exploits circulating on underground forums.
Federal agencies and critical infrastructure must remediate by October 27, 2025, per BOD 22-01, applying patches through Windows Update or WSUS, prioritizing domain controllers and file servers.


For unpatchable systems, use Application Control and Windows Defender Exploit Guard as interim measures. Monitor Event IDs 4656/4658 for suspicious CLFS activity (e.g., clfs.sys, clfsw32.dll), and scan networks with Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer or similar tools to identify exposures amid rising ransomware threats.
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