CVE-2021-20051

Administrator command execution via installer DLL hijacking

Published May 4, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

DLL search order hijacking in the SonicWall Global VPN Client 4.10.7.1117 and earlier installer allows local users to execute commands. The RunMSI.exe installer component searches for 15 DLL variants through locations where an attacker can place malicious files, causing attacker-controlled code to load. Exploitation requires administrator execution of the vulnerable installer and prior machine control or the ability to place malicious files.

CVSS severity7.7
High
EPSS probability0.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL search order hijacking in the SonicWall Global VPN Client 4.10.7.1117 and earlier installer allows local users to execute commands. The RunMSI.exe installer component searches for 15 DLL variants through locations where an attacker can place malicious files, causing attacker-controlled code to load. Exploitation requires administrator execution of the vulnerable installer and prior machine control or the ability to place malicious files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20051
Published
May 4, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
SonicWall
Product
Global VPN Client
Classifications
CWE-427, CAPEC-471, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 4, 2022CVE 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

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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=Global VPN Client 4.10.7.1117 and earlier versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

SonicWall · Global VPN Clientversion=Global VPN Client 4.10.7.1117 and earlier versions

Published CVSS scores

7.7SonicWallCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CAPEC-471Search Order Hijacking
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL

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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