CVE-2021-0090

Local privilege escalation via uncontrolled search path

Published Jun 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel Driver & Support Assistant before 20.11.50.9 allows local users to gain elevated privileges. Intel has not disclosed the affected executable, resource, or search-path element, so the exact unsafe lookup operation is not public. The attacker must already hold local authenticated access and induce user interaction; Intel has not described the additional conditions or resulting privilege level.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel Driver & Support Assistant before 20.11.50.9 allows local users to gain elevated privileges. Intel has not disclosed the affected executable, resource, or search-path element, so the exact unsafe lookup operation is not public. The attacker must already hold local authenticated access and induce user interaction; Intel has not described the additional conditions or resulting privilege level.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0090
Published
Jun 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
Product
Intel Driver & Support Assistant
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=before version 20.11.50.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. · Intel Driver & Support Assistantversion=before version 20.11.50.9

Published CVSS scores

7.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.7Intel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574Hijack Execution Flow

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo