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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-22921 · published 12 July 2021

CVE-2021-22921: Nodejs node.js incorrect permission assignment vulnerability

Nodejs · Node.Js

Node.js before 16.4.1, 14.17.2, and 12.22.2 is vulnerable to local privilege escalation attacks under certain conditions on Windows platforms. More specifically, improper configuration of permissions in the installation directory allows an attacker to perform two different escalation attacks: PATH and DLL hijacking.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 7.4% · top 5.8% CWE-732 · Incorrect permission assignment
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 4.4
7.4%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
2Affected product versions listed by NVD
8References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

Node.js before 16.4.1, 14.17.2, and 12.22.2 is vulnerable to local privilege escalation attacks under certain conditions on Windows platforms. More specifically, improper configuration of permissions in the installation directory allows an attacker to perform two different escalation attacks: PATH and DLL hijacking.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

2 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdf PatchThird Party Advisory
https://hackerone.com/reports/1211160 ExploitThird Party Advisory
https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/july-2021-security-releases/ PatchRelease NotesVendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210805-0003/ Third Party Advisory
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdf PatchThird Party Advisory
https://hackerone.com/reports/1211160 ExploitThird Party Advisory
https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/july-2021-security-releases/ PatchRelease NotesVendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210805-0003/ Third Party Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-22921), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.