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Full vulnerability report · 2021
CVE-2021-36934High confidence

Microsoft Windows SAM Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft · Windows

7.8HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-02-24 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityHighOperational priority:Critical, raised one band.upgradedsince 10 Feb 2022

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
  • EPSS is 67.25% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Microsoft Windows and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2021-23510

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists because of overly permissive Access Control Lists (ACLs) on multiple system files, including the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. An attacker must have the ability to execute code on a victim system to exploit this vulnerability. After installing this security update, you must manually delete all shadow copies of system files, including the SAM database, to fully mitigate this vulnerabilty. Simply installing this security update will not fully mitigate this vulnerability. See KB5005357- Delete Volume Shadow Copies.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 10 Feb 2022. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
7.8 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-02-24 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

If a Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) shadow copy of the system drive is available, users can read the SAM file which would allow any user to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level.

What

If a Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) shadow copy of the system drive is available, users can read the SAM file which would allow any user to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level.

Why

The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack required granularity, which renders the control policy too broad because it allows accesses from unauthorized agents to the security-sensitive assets.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

If a Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) shadow copy of the system drive is available, users can read the SAM file which would allow any user to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level.

Why

The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack required granularity, which renders the control policy too broad because it allows accesses from unauthorized agents to the security-sensitive assets.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2022-02-10.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Insufficient Granularity of Access Control → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-1220 ↗

CWE-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control. The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack required granularity, which renders the control policy too broad because it allows accesses from unauthorized agents to the security-sensitive assets.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:T/RC:C

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
CWE-1220CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2021-23510Known-exploited evidence recorded

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists because of overly permissive Access Control Lists (ACLs) on multiple system files, including the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. An attacker must have the ability to execute code on a victim system to exploit this vulnerability. After installing this security update, you must manually delete all shadow copies of system files, including the SAM database, to fully mitigate this vulnerabilty. Simply installing this security update will not fully mitigate this vulnerability. See KB5005357- Delete Volume Shadow Copies.

Official EUVD record ↗
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · English · AV21-352Microsoft security advisory

On 20 July 2021 Microsoft published an out-of-band Security Advisory to address a vulnerability in the following product: Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an actor with the ability to execute code on a victim system to obtain sensitive system information and elevate privileges.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20210728Security Bulletin 28 Jul 2021

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 28 Jul 2021, published on 28 July 2021. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2021-AVI-624Vulnérabilité dans Microsoft Windows

Une vulnérabilité a été découverte dans Microsoft Windows. Elle permet à un attaquant de provoquer une élévation de privilèges.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2021-AVI-575Vulnérabilité dans Microsoft Windows

Une vulnérabilité a été découverte dans Microsoft Windows. Elle permet à un attaquant de provoquer une élévation de privilèges.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2021-002245Microsoft Windows 10 におけるシステムフォルダの ACL 設定不備による権限昇格の脆弱性

Windows 10 の複数のバージョンにおいて、%windir%\system32\config フォルダに対する読出し・実行(RX)権限が非管理者アカウントの BUILTIN\Users グループに付与されています。そのため、非特権ユーザによって、Security Accounts Manager (SAM) データベースを含む複数のシステムファイルが読み出されることで、結果として不十分な ACL を設定していることに起因する権限昇格の脆弱性が存在します。 また、バックアップ実行などの理由で生成された VSS シャドーコピーにも同様の脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5362MS 8월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

soft Dynamics 365(온-프레미스) 교차-사이트 스크립팅 취약성 Microsoft Dynamics CVE-2021-36946 Microsoft Dynamics Business Central 교차-사이트 스크립팅 취약성 Microsoft Dynamics CVE-2021-34524 Microsoft Dynamics 365(온-프레미스) 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Microsoft Graphics Component CVE-2021-34533 Windows 그래픽 구성 요소 글꼴 구문 분석 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Microsoft Graphics Component CVE-2021-34530 Windows 그래픽 구성 요소 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Microsoft Office CVE-2021-34478 Microsoft Office 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Microsoft Office SharePoint CVE-2021-36940 Microsoft SharePoint Server 스푸핑 취약성 Microsoft Office Word CVE-2021-36941 Microsoft Word 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Microsoft Scripting Engine CVE-2021-34480 스크립팅 엔진 메모리 손상 취약성 Microsoft Windows CVE-2021-36934 Windows 권한 상승 취약성 Microsoft Windows Codecs Library CVE-2021-36937 Windows Media MPEG-4 비디오 디코더 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Remote Desktop Client CVE-2021-34535 원격 데스크톱 클라이언트 원격 코드 실행 취약성 Remote Desktop Connection Manager CVE-2020-0765 원격 데스크톱 연결 관리자 정보 유출 취약성 Windows Bluetooth Service CVE-2021-34537 Windows Bluetooth 드라이버 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Cryptographic Services CVE-2021-36938 Windows 암호화 기본 형식 라이브러리 정보 공개 취약성 Windows Defender CVE-2021-34471 Microsoft Windows Defender 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Event Tracing CVE-2021-34487 Windows 이벤트 추적 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Event Tracing CVE-2021-34486 Windows 이벤트 추적 권한 상승 취약성 Windows Event Tracing CVE-2021-26425 Windows 이벤트 추적 권한 상승

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 22 Jul 2021 · Last source change 10 Aug 2026, 15:11 UTC · CWE-1220 · Insufficient Granularity of Access Control

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2021-23510
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCISA KEV
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.2114; 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.2114; 10.0.0 < 10.0.18363.1734; 10.0.0 < 10.0.19041.1165; 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.1165; 10.0.0 < 10.0.19043.1165 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    After
    Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.2114, 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.2114; Windows 10 Version 1909: 10.0.0 < 10.0.18363.1734; Windows 10 Version 2004: 10.0.0 < 10.0.19041.1165; Windows 10 Version 20H2: 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.1165; Windows 10 Version 21H1: 10.0.0 < 10.0.19043.1165 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2021-36934 · cve.blacktree.nl