CVE-2021-31199KEV · OVERDUE

Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Medium · published June 8, 2021

Patch now

The score understates this — it's already being exploited

CVSS calls it medium at 5.2. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 86.3th percentile for exploit probability.

1754
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
5.2
EPSS
3%
Percentile
86.3
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

⚠️ A crafty privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft could let an attacker gain elevated access — think of it as a guest sneaking into the VIP lounge! 😱 Imagine you’re at a party where general guests can walk into the main hall, but someone finds a way to slip past the bouncers and into the exclusive VIP area. This vulnerability allows an attacker to elevate their privileges and gain access to restricted areas of the system without proper authorization. If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, leading to a potentially devastating breach of sensitive data or system controls. Existing security measures may not be enough to prevent unauthorized access, leaving your system vulnerable!

Put simply

Imagine you’re at a party where general guests can walk into the main hall, but someone finds a way to slip past the bouncers and into the exclusive VIP area. This vulnerability allows an attacker to elevate their privileges and gain access to restricted areas of the system without proper authorization. This vulnerability arises from the way Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider manages cryptographic operations. A flaw in this module enables attackers to escalate their privileges, allowing them to perform unauthorized actions on the system.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, leading to a potentially devastating breach of sensitive data or system controls. Existing security measures may not be enough to prevent unauthorized access, leaving your system vulnerable! To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure you're running the latest security updates from Microsoft. Check for patches that specifically address CVE-2021-31199 and apply them promptly. Regularly review and tighten system access controls to minimize potential exploitation risks. You've got this! With a few updates and some vigilance, you can keep your systems safe and sound! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
5.2 · MEDIUM
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02954 · 86.3th percentile
Published
2021-06-08T22:46Z
KEV added
2021-11-03 · due 2021-11-17
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 03 NOV 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Nov 17
    kev
  • 08 JUN 22:46Z
    Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
    cvelistv5