Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows Installer

1) Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls

EUVDB-ID: #VU58061

Risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 6.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-41379

CWE-ID: CWE-264 - Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to application does not properly impose security restrictions in Windows Installer, which leads to security restrictions bypass and delete targeted files on a system.

Mitigation

Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Windows: 7 - 11 21H2 10.0.22000.194

Windows Server: 2008 R2 - 2019 2004

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10:Gold:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10:S:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10:Mobile:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_20H2:10.0.19042.572:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_21H1:10.0.19043.985:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1507:10.0.10240.16405:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1511:10.0.10586.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1607:10.0.14393.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-41379

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.