CVE-2021-43231 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published on 2021-12-15 and affects various Microsoft Windows versions.

Understanding CVE-2021-43231

Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability impacts Windows systems, leading to an Elevation of Privilege.

What is CVE-2021-43231?

The CVE-2021-43231 vulnerability allows attackers to elevate privileges on compromised Windows systems.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43231

This vulnerability poses a high severity risk with a CVSS base score of 7.8, affecting systems' confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43231

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Windows NTFS allows unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges on affected systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following Microsoft products and versions are impacted:

Windows 10 version 1809
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core Installation)
Windows 10 versions 1909, 21H1, 2004, 20H2, and 21H2
Windows Server 2022
Windows Server version 2004
Windows 11 version 21H2
Windows 10 version 1607
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core Installation)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access and perform malicious activities on affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Efforts to mitigate the impact of CVE-2021-43231 are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Microsoft promptly
Monitor for any unusual system behavior
Implement the principle of least privilege

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and apply security patches
Conduct security assessments and audits periodically

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released security patches to address CVE-2021-43231. Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest patches.