// For flags

CVE-2021-42297

Windows 10 Update Assistant Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Severity Score

5.0
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

1
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

Windows 10 Update Assistant Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Una Vulnerabilidad de ElevaciĆ³n de Privilegios del Asistente de ActualizaciĆ³n de Windows 10. Este CVE ID es diferente de CVE-2021-43211

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within Windows Update Assistant. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the Update Assistant to delete a folder. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM.

*Credits: Abdelhamid Naceri
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Medium
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2021-10-12 CVE Reserved
  • 2021-11-24 CVE Published
  • 2023-12-29 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-08-04 CVE Updated
  • 2024-08-04 First Exploit
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
CWE
  • CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10 Update Assistant
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10 Update Assistant"
--
Affected