Microsoft Windows SAM Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Exploited · KEV 2022-02-10Metasploit moduleCVE-2021-36934CWE-1220

Exploited since 2022-02-10. No WAF vendor names it yet.

Edge rules

0/8

Our test

No exploit yet

CVSS

7.8

EPSS

67.3% Top 0.7%

Posts, 14d

Published

2021-07-22

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.

Edge coverage

Claimed by vendors

CloudflareBefore feed historyOlder than its feed AWSNo public claimNot named Microsoft AzureNo public claimNot named Google CloudBefore feed historyOlder than its feed FastlyBefore feed historyOlder than its feed F5Before feed historyOlder than its feed AkamaiNo public sourceNo public changelog OWASP CRSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed

Ask Vigil

AI · answers from this page

Ask about CVE-2021-36934: who's covered, what to patch first, how vendors compare. I cite sources and won't help with attacks.

Workers AI (Llama 3.3). Can be wrong: check the cited source.

Severity, decoded

CVSS 3.1

7.8High

High · 7.8 / 10

Exploitable with local access, with low privileges and no user interaction, leading to full loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Needs local accessAny user loginNo user actionWorks reliablyFull compromise

How the score is built8 metrics

Attack vectorAn attacker needs local access, or must trick a user into opening something on the machine.
Local
Attack complexityNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Low
Privileges requiredThe attacker needs an ordinary user account.
Low
User interactionNo one has to click or open anything; the attack works on its own.
None
ScopeThe damage stays within the vulnerable component.
Unchanged
Confidentiality impactAn attacker can read all data the affected component holds, or the most sensitive parts of it.
High
Integrity impactAn attacker can change any data or files the affected component protects.
High
Availability impactAn attacker can take the component down completely or keep it from serving anyone.
High

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

Also in the vector: Exploit code maturity: Functional · Remediation level: Temporary fix · Report confidence: Confirmed

CISA's assessmentSSVC, from the CVE record

ExploitationActive

Attackers are exploiting this in the wild.

AutomatableNo

At least one step needs hands-on work, which slows mass attacks.

Technical impactTotal

A successful attack gives full control over the affected software or all of its data.

Public exploits

1 found

1 Metasploit0 Exploit-DB0 Scanner template0 GitHub PoCs

MetasploitWindows SAM secrets leak - HiveNightmare2021-07-20 · post · rank Normal

Links are to third-party code: never run it outside an isolated lab.

Timeline

2021-07-20
Metasploit module published
Windows SAM secrets leak - HiveNightmare
2021-07-22
CVE published
CVE List
2022-02-10
Added to CISA KEV
Confirmed exploitation in the wild