CVE-2021-29801

Local root escalation through undisclosed kernel flaw

Published Aug 26, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Kernel privilege escalation in IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 allows local users to obtain root privileges through local execution. IBM has not published the vulnerable kernel function, input path, or incorrect operation, so the code-level mechanism remains undisclosed. Exploitation requires code execution as a non-privileged local account and grants full root control over the affected system.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel privilege escalation in IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 allows local users to obtain root privileges through local execution. IBM has not published the vulnerable kernel function, input path, or incorrect operation, so the code-level mechanism remains undisclosed. Exploitation requires code execution as a non-privileged local account and grants full root control over the affected system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29801
Published
Aug 26, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
AIX
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=7.1
  2. Affected versionversion=7.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · AIXversion=7.1; version=7.2
IBM · PowerVM Virtual I/O Serverversion=3.1

Published CVSS scores

8.4IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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