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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-31847 · published 22 September 2021

CVE-2021-31847: Mcafee agent improper privilege management vulnerability

MMcafee · Agent

Improper access control vulnerability in the repair process for McAfee Agent for Windows prior to 5.7.4 could allow a local attacker to perform a DLL preloading attack using unsigned DLLs. This would result in elevation of privileges and the ability to execute arbitrary code as the system user, through not correctly protecting a temporary directory used in the repair process and not checking the DLL signature.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.40% · top 68.5% CWE-269 · Improper privilege managementCWE-347 · Improper verification of cryptographic signature
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 6.9
0.40%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

Improper access control vulnerability in the repair process for McAfee Agent for Windows prior to 5.7.4 could allow a local attacker to perform a DLL preloading attack using unsigned DLLs. This would result in elevation of privileges and the ability to execute arbitrary code as the system user, through not correctly protecting a temporary directory used in the repair process and not checking the DLL signature.

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

Affected products

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

References

LinkTags
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10369 Broken Link
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1104/ Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10369 Broken Link
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1104/ Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry

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

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-31847), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.