Junglewise Threat Intelligence

CVE-2021-31979: Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2021-31979 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

Technologies: Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1. Vendors: Microsoft.

Executive brief

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Microsoft Windows Kernel due to improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer (CWE-119). An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain elevated system privileges.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows 10 1507, 1607, 1809, 1909, 2004, 20H2, 21H1
  • Microsoft Windows 7 SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1
  • Microsoft Windows RT 8.1
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2 SP1
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Base, R2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2019
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2004
  • Microsoft Windows Server 20H2

Timeline

  • 2021-11-03: advisory: Microsoft published the security advisory.
  • 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
  • 2021-11-03: exploited: Vulnerability reported as being exploited in the wild.

Related threats