CVE-2021-4199

SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link file overwrite

Published Mar 7, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Incorrect resource permissions in BDReinit.exe in affected Bitdefender Windows products allow local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. The Bitdefender Auxiliary Service follows an attacker-created symbolic link and overwrites its target during crash handling. Low-privileged code execution on an affected endpoint is required; successful exploitation permits arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect resource permissions in BDReinit.exe in affected Bitdefender Windows products allow local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. The Bitdefender Auxiliary Service follows an attacker-created symbolic link and overwrites its target during crash handling. Low-privileged code execution on an affected endpoint is required; successful exploitation permits arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4199
Published
Mar 7, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Bitdefender
Product
Bitdefender Total Security
Classifications
CWE-732, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 7, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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 <26.0.10.45

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Bitdefender · Bitdefender Total Securityversion=unspecified <26.0.10.45
Bitdefender · Bitdefender Endpoint Security Tools for Windowsversion=unspecified <7.4.3.140
Bitdefender · Bitdefender Internet Securityversion=unspecified <26.0.10.45
Bitdefender · Bitdefender Antivirus Plusversion=unspecified <26.0.10.45

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8BitdefenderCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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.

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-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
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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