CVE-2024-49039: Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• Yes, if you run Microsoft Windows. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-11-12, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2024-12-03; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
• EPSS 14.2%, percentile 97: FIRST’s model estimates a 14.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 97% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.

What it is

Windows Task Scheduler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

CISA’s summary

Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that can allow an attacker-provided, local application to escalate privileges outside of its AppContainer, and access privileged RPC functions.

Weakness type: CWE-287.

Product: Microsoft Windows · Assigned by: microsoft · Published: 2024-11-12

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: local access needed
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: low (any account)
• User interaction: none
• Scope: changed (can affect other components)

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: added 2024-11-12; federal due date 2024-12-03. Known ransomware use: Known.
• CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 14.18% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 97.

Timeline

• 2024-11-12 — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
• 2024-11-12 — CVE record published by microsoft
• 2024-12-03 — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
• 2026-08-04 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

1. Windows Task Scheduler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability msrc.microsoft.com
2. Listed in CISA KEV notes (msrc.microsoft.com) msrc.microsoft.com

Vulnerability records

1. CVE.org record CVE-2024-49039 cve.org
2. NVD entry CVE-2024-49039 nvd.nist.gov

Government

1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

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