CVE-2021-4198

Local process crashes through null pointer dereference

Published Mar 7, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in messaging_ipc.dll in affected Bitdefender products allows local users to crash product processes. The DLL dereferences a null pointer while handling local IPC, but the published advisories do not disclose the malformed field or precise code path. Low-privileged local code execution is required; exploitation interrupts product processes and can generate crash-dump files.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in messaging_ipc.dll in affected Bitdefender products allows local users to crash product processes. The DLL dereferences a null pointer while handling local IPC, but the published advisories do not disclose the malformed field or precise code path. Low-privileged local code execution is required; exploitation interrupts product processes and can generate crash-dump files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4198
Published
Mar 7, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Bitdefender
Product
Bitdefender VPN
Classifications
CWE-476, T1489
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 7, 2022CVE 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <25.5.0.48

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Bitdefender · Bitdefender VPNversion=unspecified <25.5.0.48
Bitdefender · Bitdefender Total Securityversion=unspecified <26.0.3.29
Bitdefender · Bitdefender Internet Securityversion=unspecified <26.0.3.29
Bitdefender · Bitdefender Antivirus Plusversion=unspecified <26.0.3.29

Published CVSS scores

6.1BitdefenderCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1489Service Stop

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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