Patchfirst
CVE-2026-21510 KEVPublic exploit High · 8.8 EPSS 61.2%

Microsoft Windows Shell Protection Mechanism Failure Vulnerability

Microsoft · Windows

Summary

The flaw is a protection mechanism failure in the Windows Shell component of Microsoft Windows. An unauthorized attacker over the network can bypass a security feature of Windows Shell, and exploitation requires user interaction.

Official description · NVD

Protection mechanism failure in Windows Shell allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.

Breakdown
74.0 / 100
Exploited
Yes, in CISA KEV
Reports
0
Tactics
2/15

How an attack unfolds

Based on mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.
  1. How attackers get in

  2. What they do

First seen exploited the day it was disclosed. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 1 day after disclosure.

  1. DisclosedFirst seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidenceAdded to CISA KEVEU database agreesday 0
  2. Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+1 day

CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.

techniques

2 , grouped by in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2

Stealth

Exploitation for Stealth T1211 Medium
AI mapping from the description · how it is exploited

Bypasses a security feature via protection failure

Protection mechanism failure in Windows Shell allows
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Defense Impairment

Subvert Trust Controls T1553 Medium
AI mapping from the description · primary impact

Security feature bypass removes protective controls

allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Detection

0 rules for this CVE · 8 general rules for its techniques

Rules for this CVE

0 that reference CVE-2026-21510 directly.

CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗

General rules for this CVE’s techniques

These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.

Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.

What security researchers reported

Not named in any threat report yet

Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)

Weaker evidence

Pulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.

References

2 links, grouped by NVD tag
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