CVE-2021-36968

Local privilege escalation through undisclosed DNS flaw

Published Sep 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Improper privilege management in Microsoft Windows DNS on affected Windows 7 and Server 2008 systems allows local users to elevate privileges. Microsoft identifies only the Windows DNS component and does not disclose the affected code path or the operation that mishandles privileges. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability within the existing security scope.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper privilege management in Microsoft Windows DNS on affected Windows 7 and Server 2008 systems allows local users to elevate privileges. Microsoft identifies only the Windows DNS component and does not disclose the affected code path or the operation that mishandles privileges. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability within the existing security scope.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36968
Published
Sep 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 7
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 15, 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

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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=6.1.0 <6.1.7601.25712

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 7version=6.1.0 <6.1.7601.25712
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.25712
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.25712
Microsoft · Windows 7 Service Pack 1version=6.1.0 <6.1.7601.25712
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.21218
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.21218

Published CVSS scores

7.8MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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-269Improper Privilege Management
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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