CVE-2021-43883 : Security Advisory and Response

Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability was published by Microsoft on December 14, 2021. This CVE affects various Windows versions.

Understanding CVE-2021-43883

What is CVE-2021-43883?

CVE-2021-43883 is an Elevation of Privilege vulnerability in the Windows Installer.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43883

This vulnerability has a high base severity score of 7.8, indicating significant risks to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43883

Vulnerability Description

The CVE-2021-43883 vulnerability in Windows Installer allows attackers to elevate privileges on affected systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

Windows 10 Version 1809, 1909, 21H1, 20H2, 21H2
Windows Server 2019, 2019 (Server Core), 2022
Windows 10 Version 1507, 1607
Windows Server 2016, 2016 (Server Core)
Windows 7, 7 SP1, 8.1
Windows Server 2008 SP2, 2008 R2 SP1, 2008 R2 SP1 (Server Core)
Windows Server 2012, 2012 (Server Core), 2012 R2, 2012 R2 (Server Core)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft promptly.
Monitor for any suspicious activity indicating exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Keep systems and software up to date with the latest security patches.
Implement least privilege access policies to reduce the impact of privilege escalation attacks.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the recommended security patches to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-43883.