CVE-2021-3550

Local privilege escalation via DLL search hijacking

Published Jul 16, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

DLL search-path hijacking in Lenovo PC Manager before 3.0.500.5102 allows local users to escalate privileges through a crafted DLL. Lenovo identifies the flaw only at the DLL search-path level and does not disclose the executable, searched directory, or unsafe library-loading call. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and no user interaction; successful loading runs attacker-controlled code with the application's elevated privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

DLL search-path hijacking in Lenovo PC Manager before 3.0.500.5102 allows local users to escalate privileges through a crafted DLL. Lenovo identifies the flaw only at the DLL search-path level and does not disclose the executable, searched directory, or unsafe library-loading call. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and no user interaction; successful loading runs attacker-controlled code with the application's elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3550
Published
Jul 16, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Lenovo
Product
Lenovo PC Manager
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 16, 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=unspecified <3.0.500.5102

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Lenovo · Lenovo PC Managerversion=unspecified <3.0.500.5102

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8Lenovo Group Ltd.CVSS: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

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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