SYSTEM code execution via arbitrary queue-specific files
Published Aug 12, 2021 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Remote code execution in Microsoft Windows Print Spooler allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges via a malicious printer connection. Point and Print downloads queue-specific files, and the Spooler loads an attacker-supplied library as SYSTEM without adequately restricting privileged file operations. A local user must initiate the printer connection; successful exploitation permits arbitrary code execution and full control of the host.
Summary
What happened
Remote code execution in Microsoft Windows Print Spooler allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges via a malicious printer connection. Point and Print downloads queue-specific files, and the Spooler loads an attacker-supplied library as SYSTEM without adequately restricting privileged file operations. A local user must initiate the printer connection; successful exploitation permits arbitrary code execution and full control of the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-36958
- Published
- Aug 12, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows 10 Version 1507
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 12, 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 <10.0.10240.19060
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
- Malicious printer-share proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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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