CVE-2021-31217

Local privilege escalation via insecure folder permissions

Published Jul 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper access control in SolarWinds DameWare Mini Remote Control Server 12.0.1.200 allows local users to delete files as SYSTEM. Insecure permissions on the DameWare Mini Remote Control Service installation directory let a Windows Installer repair operation remove files with SYSTEM privileges. Exploitation requires local access and initiation of a repair; the documented consequence is privileged file deletion and potential service disruption.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability4.01%
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 SolarWinds DameWare Mini Remote Control Server 12.0.1.200 allows local users to delete files as SYSTEM. Insecure permissions on the DameWare Mini Remote Control Service installation directory let a Windows Installer repair operation remove files with SYSTEM privileges. Exploitation requires local access and initiation of a repair; the documented consequence is privileged file deletion and potential service disruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31217
Published
Jul 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-276, T1070.004, T1222.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.1[email protected]CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
6.5SolarWindsCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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.

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-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1070.004File Deletion
T1222.001File and Directory Permissions Modification

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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