Kernel privilege escalation via undersized pool allocation
Published Jul 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Memory corruption in the Windows NTOS kernel allows local users to gain kernel code execution through a crafted application. An integer overflow miscalculates a kernel-pool allocation size, and a subsequent memory copy overflows the undersized buffer into an adjacent object. Low-privilege code execution is required; controlled pool grooming can turn the corrupted object into kernel read/write primitives and full privilege elevation.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in the Windows NTOS kernel allows local users to gain kernel code execution through a crafted application. An integer overflow miscalculates a kernel-pool allocation size, and a subsequent memory copy overflows the undersized buffer into an adjacent object. Low-privilege code execution is required; controlled pool grooming can turn the corrupted object into kernel read/write primitives and full privilege elevation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-31979
- Published
- Jul 14, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows 10 Version 1507
- Classifications
- CWE-119, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 14, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 10, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19003
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Reported exploitation
- SOURGUM exploitation with DevilsTonguethreat actor
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listingknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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