CVE-2021-25253

SYSTEM code execution via incorrect resource permissions

Published Apr 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper access control in Apex One 2019, Apex One SaaS, and OfficeScan XG SP1 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. The Apex One Security Agent assigns incorrect permissions to an undisclosed resource used by a service, exposing the privileged service boundary. Exploitation requires prior ability to execute low-privileged code on an affected Windows host and results in arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Apex One 2019, Apex One SaaS, and OfficeScan XG SP1 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. The Apex One Security Agent assigns incorrect permissions to an undisclosed resource used by a service, exposing the privileged service boundary. Exploitation requires prior ability to execute low-privileged code on an affected Windows host and results in arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25253
Published
Apr 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Apex One
Classifications
CWE-732, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 13, 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

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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=2019, SaaS

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Apex Oneversion=2019, SaaS
Trend Micro · Trend Micro OfficeScanversion=XG SP1

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend MicroCVSS:3.0/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.

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-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

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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