known ransomware use

Microsoft Windows Group Policy Preferences Password Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Added to KEV
2021-11-03
Federal due date
2022-05-03
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows
EPSS
98.9th percentile (score 0.746, as of 2026-06-08)
NVD CVSS v3.1
Ransomware use
Known
Upstream
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-1812

CISA short description

Microsoft Windows Active Directory contains a privilege escalation vulnerability due to the way it distributes passwords that are configured using Group Policy preferences. An authenticated attacker who successfully exploits the vulnerability could decrypt the passwords and use them to elevate privileges on the domain.

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

EPSS percentile is the FIRST.org exploit-probability ranking as of the date noted above; it moves daily. CVSS reflects NVD's analysis at time of publication.