The National Security Agency warned Vulnerability-related.DiscoverVulnerability Microsoft about a vulnerability in Windows after a hacker group began to leak hacking tools used by the agency online , the Washington Post reported late Tuesday . The vulnerability has been the center of attention in recent days , following the outbreak of the global “Wanna Cry” ransomware attack Attack.Ransom that crippled Britain ’ s hospital system and has spread to at least 150 countries . The ransomware is widely believed to be based on an alleged NSA hacking tool leaked by the group Shadow Brokers earlier this year . The government has not publicly acknowledged that the NSA developed the tool . “ NSA identified a risk and communicated it to Microsoft , who put out Vulnerability-related.PatchVulnerability an immediate patch , ” Mike McNerney , a former Defense Department cybersecurity official , told the Post . McNerney said , however , that no top government official emphasized the seriousness of the vulnerability . Microsoft issued Vulnerability-related.PatchVulnerability a patch for its supported systems in March , weeks before Shadow Brokers released the exploit , but many computer systems around the world remained unpatched , leaving them vulnerable to the latest ransomware attack Attack.Ransom . The ransomware campaign has been less devastating to the United States than other countries , but has affected some American companies including FedEx . The events have renewed debate over the secretive process by which the federal government decides whether to disclose Vulnerability-related.DiscoverVulnerability a zero-day vulnerability to the product ’ s manufacturer , as well as spurring scrutiny of the NSA . Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith said Sunday that the ransomware attack Attack.Ransom should serve as a “ wake-up call ” to governments not to hoard vulnerabilities . On Wednesday , a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation that would codify what is known as the vulnerabilities equities process into law , bringing more transparency and oversight to it . View the discussion thread .