Cyber Resilience

CVE-2021-40454

Medium

Published: 13 October 2021

Published
13 October 2021
Modified
21 November 2024
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 5.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0011 29.5th percentile
Risk Priority 11 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2021-40454 is a medium-severity Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (CWE-312) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10. Its CVSS base score is 5.5 (Medium).

Operationally, ranked at the 29.5th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Rich Text Edit Control Information Disclosure Vulnerability

CWE(s)

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

microsoft
365 apps
all versions
microsoft
office
2013, 2013_rt, 2016, 2019, 2021
microsoft
windows 10
1607, 1809, 1909, 2004, 20h2
microsoft
windows 11
all versions
microsoft
windows 8.1
all versions
microsoft
windows rt 8.1
all versions
microsoft
windows server
2004, 20h2
microsoft
windows server 2012
all versions, r2
microsoft
windows server 2016
all versions
microsoft
windows server 2019
all versions
+1 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-312

Training on secure data handling discourages cleartext storage of sensitive information.

addresses: CWE-312

Data action mapping can detect storage actions that leave sensitive information in cleartext.

addresses: CWE-312

Configuration policies can mandate secure storage methods to avoid cleartext storage of sensitive information.

addresses: CWE-312

Policy requires protection measures such as encryption for sensitive data stored on media, preventing cleartext exposure.

addresses: CWE-312

Key-management policy requires protected storage of key material, preventing cleartext storage of sensitive cryptographic keys.

addresses: CWE-312

Requiring confidentiality protection for information at rest eliminates cleartext storage of sensitive data on persistent media.

addresses: CWE-312

Reduces cleartext storage of sensitive data when OPSEC identifies and mandates protection of key information artifacts.

References