CVE-2021-40981Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via unsigned DLL loading

Published Sep 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Privilege escalation in ASUS ROG Armoury Crate Lite before 4.2.10 allows local users to execute code with elevated privileges. ArmouryCrate.UserSessionHelper.exe uses LoadLibraryExW to load a plugin DLL from the writable %PROGRAMDATA%\ASUS\GamingCenterLib directory without validating its signature. A low-privileged local user must plant the DLL and trigger the helper's loading path, after which the malicious code runs in the helper's elevated context.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.40%
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 ASUS ROG Armoury Crate Lite before 4.2.10 allows local users to execute code with elevated privileges. ArmouryCrate.UserSessionHelper.exe uses LoadLibraryExW to load a plugin DLL from the writable %PROGRAMDATA%\ASUS\GamingCenterLib directory without validating its signature. A low-privileged local user must plant the DLL and trigger the helper's loading path, after which the malicious code runs in the helper's elevated context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40981
Published
Sep 27, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 27, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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

4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.3NIST NVDCVSS: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 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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

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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