CVE-2021-38634 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2021-38634, a high severity elevation of privilege vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Update Client. Find affected systems, impact, and mitigation steps.
Microsoft Windows Update Client Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published on September 15, 2021, with a base severity score of 7.1.
Understanding CVE-2021-38634
This CVE discloses a high severity elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows Update Client.
What is CVE-2021-38634?
CVE-2021-38634 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows Update Client.
The Impact of CVE-2021-38634
The vulnerability has a base severity score of 7.1 (High) and allows an attacker to elevate privileges on the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-38634
The vulnerability is rated as high severity with a CVSS base score of 7.1. It affects various versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Vulnerability Description
The elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Update Client could be exploited by an attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system.
Affected Systems and Versions
Systems affected include Windows 10 Version 1809, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation), Windows 10 Version 1909, Windows 10 Version 21H1, Windows Server 2022, Windows 10 Version 2004, Windows Server version 2004, Windows 10 Version 20H2, Windows Server version 20H2, Windows 10 Version 1507, Windows 10 Version 1607, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation).
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with low privileges to gain higher system privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-38634.
Immediate Steps to Take
Ensure systems are updated with the latest security patches from Microsoft to address the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update and patch systems to prevent the exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Apply the necessary security updates provided by Microsoft to protect systems from potential attacks.