IRONSMITHINTEL
HIGHCVSS7.8
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2022-21999|Auth: low — authenticated user|Reboot: required|Manual only

KB5010342: Windows Server Security Update (February 2022)

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler contains an unspecified vulnerability which can allow for privilege escalation.

Published Feb 9, 2022 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A local attacker, with a low-privilege account, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. CISA has confirmed use of this vulnerability in known ransomware campaigns — treat as high priority for remediation. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2022-04-15 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Exploitation requires local access, low attack complexity, a low-privilege authenticated account, and no user interaction required.

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

●Windows Administrators
●Systems Engineers
●IT Security
●Running windows 10 1507: v < 10.0.10240.19204; windows 10 1607: v < 10.0.14393.4946; windows 10 1809: v < 10.0.17763.2565; windows 10 1909: v < 10.0.18363.2094; windows 10 20h2: v < 10.0.19042.1526; windows 10 21h1: v < 10.0.19043.1526; windows 10 21h2: v < 10.0.19044.1526; windows 11 21h2: v < 10.0.22000.493; windows 7: -; windows 8.1: -; windows rt 8.1: -; windows server 2008: -, r2; windows server 2012: -, r2; windows server 2016: v < 10.0.14393.4946; windows server 2019: v < 10.0.17763.2565; windows server 2022: v < 10.0.20348.524; windows server 20h2: v < 10.0.19042.1526
Fixed inKB5010342, KB5010345, KB5010351, KB5010354, KB5010358, KB5010359, KB5010384, KB5010386, KB5010392, KB5010395, KB5010403, KB5010404, KB5010412, KB5010419, KB5010422, KB5010456 (applies to 42 product versions) — build 10.0.10240.19204, 10.0.14393.4946+
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

CISA confirms this CVE has been used in known ransomware campaigns. Added to the KEV catalog on 2022-03-25; federal agencies required to remediate by 2022-04-15.

How to patch

Manual download

For air-gapped servers or out-of-band deployment. Microsoft Update Catalog returns every OS-version variant of this update.

↗ Microsoft Update CatalogKB5010342

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Microsoft Security Update

Microsoft has released an official security update that fixes this vulnerability.

Required KB Updates

    1
    KB5010342 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010342
    1
    KB5010345 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010345
    1
    KB5010351 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010351
    1
    KB5010354 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010354
    1
    KB5010358 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010358
    1
    KB5010359 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010359
    1
    KB5010384 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010384
    1
    KB5010386 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010386
    1
    KB5010392 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010392
    1
    KB5010395 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010395
    1
    KB5010403 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010403
    1
    KB5010404 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010404
    1
    KB5010412 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010412
    1
    KB5010419 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010419
    1
    KB5010422 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010422
    1
    KB5010456 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010456

Supersedes: KB5009543, KB5009545, KB5009546, KB5009555, KB5009557, KB5009566, KB5009585, KB5009586, KB5009610, KB5009624, KB5009627

Affected Products

    1
    Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 20H2 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 20H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H1 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H1 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    (…22 more product versions)

Fixed Build Numbers

    1
    10.0.10240.19204
    1
    10.0.14393.4946
    1
    10.0.17763.2565
    1
    10.0.18363.2094
    1
    10.0.19042.1526
    1
    10.0.19043.1526
    1
    10.0.19044.1526
    1
    10.0.20348.524
    1
    10.0.20348.525
    1
    10.0.22000.493
    1
    (…5 more builds)

Installation Methods

Windows Update (recommended)

1
Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
2
The security update is offered if your system is in scope
3
Restart when prompted — a reboot IS required to complete the install

Microsoft Update Catalog (manual download)

1
Open https://catalog.update.microsoft.com
2
Search for KB5010342
3
Download the package matching your OS architecture and Windows build
4
Run the .msu installer with administrator privileges
5
Restart when prompted

WSUS / SCCM / Intune

Approve KB5010342 for the affected products in your update management console.

Microsoft Download Center Links

    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5010342
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5010345
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5010351
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5010354
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5010358
    1
    (…10 more)

Verification

Confirm the update is installed:

Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -in @('KB5010342','KB5010345','KB5010351','KB5010354','KB5010358','KB5010359','KB5010384','KB5010386','KB5010392','KB5010395','KB5010403','KB5010404','KB5010412','KB5010419','KB5010422','KB5010456') }

References

    1
    Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-21999
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010342
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010351
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5010354
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21999
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-21999

Discovery Credit

Oliver Lyak with Institut For Cyber Risk, Xuefeng Li (@lxf02942370) & Zhiniang Peng (@edwardzpeng) of Sangfor Via Tianfu CUP

PowerShell automationComing soon

No tested PowerShell script for this entry yet. We’re prioritising automation based on user demand.

References

↗ CVE-2022-21999↗ MSRC Advisory↗ NVD↗ KBKB5010342