CVE-2021-34462

SYSTEM code execution via unvalidated link race

Published Jul 16, 2021 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows AppX Deployment Service allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM via a crafted link. The service fails to validate a user-supplied link before using it in file operations, creating a race window around a privileged file action. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution and winning the race, after which the attacker gains SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.85%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows AppX Deployment Service allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM via a crafted link. The service fails to validate a user-supplied link before using it in file operations, creating a race window around a privileged file action. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution and winning the race, after which the attacker gains SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-34462
Published
Jul 16, 2021
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
CWE-362, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 16, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19003

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19003
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.2061
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H1version=10.0.0 <10.0.19043.1110
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1909version=10.0.0 <10.0.18363.1679
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.4530
Microsoft · Windows Server, version 2004version=10.0.0 <10.0.19041.1110
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.4530
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.1110
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.2061
Microsoft · Windows Server version 20H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.19042.1110
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.4530
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 2004version=10.0.0 <10.0.19041.1110
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.0 <10.0.17763.2061; version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.2061

Published CVSS scores

7.0Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
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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