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

*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

*KEV

Decision

*SSVC

Descriptions

Windows 10 Update Assistant Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Una Vulnerabilidad de Elevación de Privilegios del Asistente de Actualización 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

References (2)

URL	Tag	Source

URL	Date	SRC
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1334	2024-08-04

URL	Date	SRC
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-42297	2023-12-28

URL	Date	SRC

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