Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen contains a security feature bypass vulnerability that could allow an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses via a specially crafted malicious file.
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Defender
- CVSS
- 5.4
- EPSS (exploit probability)
- 75.0%
- Status
- kevransomware use
- CISA patch-by (BOD 22-01)
- Added to KEV
Is CVE-2022-44698 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2022-44698 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on . CISA only lists a CVE when it has reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. CISA marks it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 75.0% (scored November 7, 2026).
- CISA KEV[ LISTED ]
- ENISA EUVD (exploited)[ — ]
- CIRCL KEV[ — ]
Catalog snapshot 2026-11-13. Full cross-catalog view: /kev-comparison
CVE-2022-44698 timeline
- Added to CISA KEVsame day as NVD
- Published to NVD
Every event links to its source. Catalog dates are each catalog's own; day offsets count from NVD publication. Data: JSON
What to do
CISA required actionApply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal civilian agencies must remediate by (21 days after listing) under BOD 22-01. Everyone else: that deadline is a sensible upper bound, not a target. Vendor guidance and the NVD record are linked under Source above.
Other Microsoft Defender CVEs we track
| CVE / Vulnerability | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Added to KEV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-45498 Microsoft Defender Denial of Service Vulnerability | [ MEDIUM ] | 4.0 | 63.1% | |
| CVE-2026-41091 Microsoft Defender Link Following Vulnerability | [ HIGH ] | 7.8 | 8.2% | |
| CVE-2026-33825 Microsoft Defender Antimalware Platform Local Privilege Escalation (BlueHammer)ransomware usewrite-up | [ HIGH ] | 7.8 | 6.9% | |
| CVE-2021-1647 Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability | [ HIGH ] | 7.8 | 39.7% |