CVE-2021-33059

Privilege escalation via improper driver input validation

Published Nov 17, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper input validation in Intel Administrative Tools for Intel Network Adapters before 1.4.0.15 allows local users to escalate privileges. The Windows network-adapter driver fails to validate crafted local input, enabling privileged users to cross security boundaries. Exploitation requires local access and a privileged account, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the host.

CVSS severity3.9
Low
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Intel Administrative Tools for Intel Network Adapters before 1.4.0.15 allows local users to escalate privileges. The Windows network-adapter driver fails to validate crafted local input, enabling privileged users to cross security boundaries. Exploitation requires local access and a privileged account, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-33059
Published
Nov 17, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Intel
Product
Administrative Tools for Intel Network Adapters
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 17, 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=before version 1.4.0.15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Intel · Administrative Tools for Intel Network Adaptersversion=before version 1.4.0.15

Published CVSS scores

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
3.9IntelCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/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.

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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-20Improper Input Validation
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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