CVE-2021-28647

Code execution via installer DLL search path

Published Apr 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

DLL hijacking in Trend Micro Password Manager 5 for Windows allows local users to execute malicious code during software installation. During installation, the product loads a planted DLL from its search path without establishing that the library is trusted. Execution occurs when a user installs a program, placing the malicious code in the installer process and enabling compromise at that process's privilege level.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL hijacking in Trend Micro Password Manager 5 for Windows allows local users to execute malicious code during software installation. During installation, the product loads a planted DLL from its search path without establishing that the library is trusted. Execution occurs when a user installs a program, placing the malicious code in the installer process and enabling compromise at that process's privilege level.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-28647
Published
Apr 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Password Manager
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Password Managerversion=5

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

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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