CVE-2021-41379: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-31T22:30:18.406Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

• Context preserved from previous revision: Microsoft Windows Installer contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation. 1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2021-41379
• KEV date added: 2022-03-03
• KEV due date: 2022-03-17
• NVD published: 2021-11-10
• NVD modified: 2025-10-30
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
• CVSS base score: 5.5
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1.8
• CVSS impact score: 3.6
• Attack vector: Local
• Attack complexity: Low
• Privileges required: Low
• User interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: None
• Integrity impact: None
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• microsoft / windows 10 1507 (versions: < 10.0.10240.19119)
• microsoft / windows 10 1607 (versions: < 10.0.14393.4770)
• microsoft / windows 10 1809 (versions: < 10.0.17763.2300)
• microsoft / windows 10 1909 (versions: < 10.0.18363.1916)
• microsoft / windows 10 2004 (versions: < 10.0.19041.1348)
• microsoft / windows 10 20h2 (versions: < 10.0.19042.1348)
• microsoft / windows 10 21h1 (versions: < 10.0.19043.1348)
• microsoft / windows 11 21h2 (versions: < 10.0.22000.318)
• microsoft / windows 7
• microsoft / windows 8.1
• microsoft / windows rt 8.1
• microsoft / windows server 2004 (versions: < 10.0.19041.1348)
• microsoft / windows server 2008
• microsoft / windows server 2008 (versions: r2)
• microsoft / windows server 2012
• microsoft / windows server 2012 (versions: r2)
• microsoft / windows server 2016 (versions: < 10.0.14393.4770)
• microsoft / windows server 2019 (versions: < 10.0.17763.2300)
• microsoft / windows server 2022 (versions: < 10.0.20348.350)
• microsoft / windows server 20h2 (versions: < 10.0.19042.1348)

Weakness Classification

• CWE-59

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• Ostorlab/KEV | stars: 608 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
  Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.

People and Organizations Mentioned

• microsoft
• Windows
• Ostorlab

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Create low-privilege users on microsoft / windows 10 1507 (versions: < 10.0.10240.19119) and validate that patching blocks unauthorized admin-level actions.
4. Compare token/privilege transitions in Windows Event Logs before and after remediation.
5. Tune detections for unusual group membership changes and SYSTEM-level process launches from user sessions.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41379
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-41379
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41379
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-41379
• https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1308/
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-41379
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.