CVE-2021-40397Public exploit

NT SYSTEM escalation via writable service binaries

Published Jan 28, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

Local privilege escalation in Advantech WISE-PaaS/OTA Server 3.0.9 allows local users to execute code with NT SYSTEM authority. The default installation grants Everyone Full Control over PostgreSQL service executables and DLLs, allowing replacement of code loaded by the service. Restarting PostgreSQL executes the replacement as NETWORK SERVICE, whose SeImpersonatePrivilege permits elevation to NT SYSTEM.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 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

Local privilege escalation in Advantech WISE-PaaS/OTA Server 3.0.9 allows local users to execute code with NT SYSTEM authority. The default installation grants Everyone Full Control over PostgreSQL service executables and DLLs, allowing replacement of code loaded by the service. Restarting PostgreSQL executes the replacement as NETWORK SERVICE, whose SeImpersonatePrivilege permits elevation to NT SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40397
Published
Jan 28, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-276, T1574.010
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 2025Record 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1574.010Services File Permissions Weakness

Public exploit references

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