CVE-2021-40708

Privilege escalation via insecure installer temporary file

Published Sep 29, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Privilege escalation in Adobe Genuine Software Client 7.3 and earlier allows local authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via the AGSService installer. The installer creates a temporary file with insecure directory permissions, allowing an attacker to replace or influence installer content. Exploitation requires user interaction; successful abuse grants read and write privileges and arbitrary code execution on the host.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability1.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Adobe Genuine Software Client 7.3 and earlier allows local authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via the AGSService installer. The installer creates a temporary file with insecure directory permissions, allowing an attacker to replace or influence installer content. Exploitation requires user interaction; successful abuse grants read and write privileges and arbitrary code execution on the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40708
Published
Sep 29, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-379, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 29, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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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

7.3AdobeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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.

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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-379Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Incorrect Permissions
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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