CVE-2024-21412
Microsoft Windows Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
Microsoft Windows
Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2024-21412
The Gentlemen is a RaaS group that emerged in July–August 2025, rapidly claiming over 320 victims across 17+ countries by offering affiliates a 90% revenue share, deploying a Go-based locker against Windows, Linux, NAS, and BSD systems; a compromised C2 server
DragonForce is a major ransomware-as-a-service operation first observed in August 2023 that launched a formal affiliate program offering 80% revenue share, then rebranded as a "ransomware cartel" in 2025, gaining notoriety for high-profile attacks on UK retail
Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2024-21412 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 13 February 2024. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 5 March 2024. CISA records this vulnerability as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 95.4%, which is higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Recent listings by these groups
Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2024-21412 being exploited by ransomware groups?
Yes. CVE-2024-21412 is recorded as exploited by Thegentlemen, Dragonforce. Between them these groups account for 1,469 victim disclosures in this database. CISA also records this vulnerability as used in ransomware campaigns.
What does CVE-2024-21412 affect?
CVE-2024-21412 affects Microsoft Windows. Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
How severe is CVE-2024-21412?
CVE-2024-21412 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.1. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 95.4%, higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 5 March 2024.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2024-21412?
Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Windows as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.