CVE-2021-23878

Credential disclosure via cleartext process memory

Published Feb 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Cleartext storage in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows before 10.7.0 February 2021 Update allows local users to read settings and credentials. The client leaves sensitive configuration values and credentials unencrypted in process memory after an administrator changes configuration through the local console. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, interaction by an ENS administrator, and immediate access to the relevant memory location.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.62%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext storage in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows before 10.7.0 February 2021 Update allows local users to read settings and credentials. The client leaves sensitive configuration values and credentials unencrypted in process memory after an administrator changes configuration through the local console. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, interaction by an ENS administrator, and immediate access to the relevant memory location.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23878
Published
Feb 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
McAfee
Product
McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows
Classifications
CWE-312, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=10.7.x <10.7.0 February 2021

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

McAfee · McAfee Endpoint Security for Windowsversion=10.7.x <10.7.0 February 2021

Published CVSS scores

7.3TrellixCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.0NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.3NISTAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

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 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-312Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information
T1005Data from Local System

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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