CVE-2021-25269

Service startup denial via unquoted executable path

Published Nov 26, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

An unquoted service path in Sophos Intercept X before 2.0.23 and Exploit Prevention before 3.8.3 allows local administrators to block HMPA startup. The Windows service registration stores the HitmanPro.Alert executable path without quotation marks, allowing path-prefix resolution to select the wrong executable. Administrator privileges and local access are required; exploitation leaves the HMPA protection service unavailable despite tamper protection.

CVSS severity4.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

An unquoted service path in Sophos Intercept X before 2.0.23 and Exploit Prevention before 3.8.3 allows local administrators to block HMPA startup. The Windows service registration stores the HitmanPro.Alert executable path without quotation marks, allowing path-prefix resolution to select the wrong executable. Administrator privileges and local access are required; exploitation leaves the HMPA protection service unavailable despite tamper protection.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25269
Published
Nov 26, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Sophos
Product
Intercept X Advanced for Server
Classifications
CWE-428, T1562.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 26, 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=unspecified <2.0.23

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Sophos · Intercept X Advanced for Serverversion=unspecified <2.0.23
Sophos · Sophos Exploit Preventionversion=unspecified <3.8.3
Sophos · Intercept X Advancedversion=unspecified <2.0.23

Published CVSS scores

2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
4.4Sophos LimitedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
T1562.001Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools

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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