Arbitrary file disclosure via directory junction
Published Sep 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Information disclosure in Microsoft Windows Installer allows local users to read arbitrary files through a crafted directory junction. The Installer service follows an attacker-created junction and returns file contents with SYSTEM access instead of constraining the path. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required, and the disclosed data can include files inaccessible to that user.
Summary
What happened
Information disclosure in Microsoft Windows Installer allows local users to read arbitrary files through a crafted directory junction. The Installer service follows an attacker-created junction and returns file contents with SYSTEM access instead of constraining the path. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required, and the disclosed data can include files inaccessible to that user.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-36962
- Published
- Sep 15, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows 10 Version 1507
- Classifications
- T1005
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 15, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.19060
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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