CyberBrief
Subscribe
8.8High

Microsoft Windows 10

CVE-2021-34481

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. UPDATE August 10, 2021: Microsoft has completed the investigation and has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Please see the Security Updates table for the applicable update for your system. We recommend that you install these updates immediately. This security update changes the Point and Print default behavior; please see KB5005652.

What this means for your business

  • It affects Microsoft Windows 10. It matters if your company, or a supplier that handles your data, runs it.
  • An attacker can use it remotely, over a network, with an ordinary user login, and without anyone at your company clicking anything.
  • FIRST's prediction model gives it a 48% chance of attack attempts being seen in the next 30 days, ranking above 98% of all known flaws.

What to do

  1. 1Check whether your company or your suppliers run Microsoft Windows 10, and which version. The affected versions are listed further down this page.
  2. 2If you do, apply the vendor's fix. A patch or vendor advisory has been published.

Not sure if your company is exposed?

Fastnexa’s certified penetration testers can check whether attackers could use this flaw, or others like it, against your websites, apps and network. The full test is free for our first 10 founding clients until 31 December 2026.

Check if you’re exposedBook a call

Scoring

CVSS
8.8 (v3.1)
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-269
Assigned by
secure@microsoft.com

Dates

Published
2021-07-16
Last modified
2026-08-10
Sources
NVD

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows 10all versions, 20h2, 21h1, 1607, 1809, 1909, 2004
  • Microsoft Windows 7all versions
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1all versions
  • Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1all versions
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008all versions, r2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012all versions
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016all versions, 2004
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2019all versions

As listed in the NVD configuration data. Not a statement about your estate.

References