CVE-2021-36297

Arbitrary code execution via SOSInstallerTool DLL search path

Published Sep 28, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Untrusted search path handling in Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs 3.8 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code. SOSInstallerTool.exe resolves and loads a planted DLL from an untrusted search location rather than restricting dependencies to trusted paths. Exploitation requires a separate administrative action outside the default installer flow after a local user places the DLL.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path handling in Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs 3.8 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code. SOSInstallerTool.exe resolves and loads a planted DLL from an untrusted search location rather than restricting dependencies to trusted paths. Exploitation requires a separate administrative action outside the default installer flow after a local user places the DLL.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36297
Published
Sep 28, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Dell
Product
SupportAssist for Home PCs
Classifications
CWE-426, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 28, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record 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=3.8, 3.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell · SupportAssist for Home PCsversion=3.8, 3.9

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8DellCVSS: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-426Untrusted Search Path
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo