CVE-2021-1697

Service interruption via directory-junction file deletion

Published Jan 12, 2021 · Updated Oct 8, 2024

File deletion in Microsoft Windows InstallService allows local users to interrupt affected systems through a crafted directory junction. The Microsoft Store Install Service follows an attacker-created directory junction and deletes a file at the redirected location. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required; ZDI bounds the demonstrated result to denial of service, while Microsoft classifies the issue as elevation of privilege.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

File deletion in Microsoft Windows InstallService allows local users to interrupt affected systems through a crafted directory junction. The Microsoft Store Install Service follows an attacker-created directory junction and deletes a file at the redirected location. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required; ZDI bounds the demonstrated result to denial of service, while Microsoft classifies the issue as elevation of privilege.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1697
Published
Jan 12, 2021
Updated
Oct 8, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
CWE-269, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 12, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 8, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.0 <publication

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1909version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1803version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server, version 2004version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 20H2version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server version 20H2version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 2004version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Windows Server, version 1909 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.0 <publication

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NISTAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1485Data Destruction

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

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Your stack

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