// For flags

CVE-2021-43237

Windows Setup Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Severity Score

7.3
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track*
*SSVC
Descriptions

Windows Setup Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Una vulnerabilidad de ElevaciĆ³n de Privilegios en Windows Setup

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. Additional user interaction is required in that an administrator must begin a version update of Windows.
The specific flaw exists within Windows Update Assistant. By creating a directory junction, an attacker can abuse Windows Update Assistant to change the DACL on an arbitrary file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute 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
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
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:Track*
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2021-11-02 CVE Reserved
  • 2021-12-15 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-04 CVE Updated
  • 2024-10-23 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
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
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
20h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "20h2"
arm64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
20h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "20h2"
x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
20h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "20h2"
x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
21h1
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "21h1"
arm64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
21h1
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "21h1"
x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
21h1
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "21h1"
x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
21h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "21h2"
arm64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
21h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "21h2"
x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
21h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "21h2"
x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
1909
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "1909"
arm64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
1909
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "1909"
x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
1909
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "1909"
x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
2004
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "2004"
arm64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
2004
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "2004"
x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 10
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10"
2004
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 10" and version "2004"
x86
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 11
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 11"
-arm64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows 11
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows 11"
-x64
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server"
20h2
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server" and version "20h2"
-
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server"
2022
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server" and version "2022"
-
Affected
Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows Server 2016
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2016"
2004
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows Server 2016" and version "2004"
-
Affected