CVE-2021-42979Public exploit

Kernel code execution via unchecked IOCTL arithmetic

Published Dec 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Integer overflow in NoMachine Cloud Server after 4.0.346 and before 7.7.4 allows local users to execute arbitrary code in kernel mode. IOCTL handler 0x22001B calculates a memmove length from user-controlled size fields without overflow checks, so the copy can exceed its allocated kernel pool buffer. The driver exposes the handler without an access-control restriction, allowing an unprivileged Windows process to corrupt kernel memory, execute kernel code, or crash the operating system.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Integer overflow in NoMachine Cloud Server after 4.0.346 and before 7.7.4 allows local users to execute arbitrary code in kernel mode. IOCTL handler 0x22001B calculates a memmove length from user-controlled size fields without overflow checks, so the copy can exceed its allocated kernel pool buffer. The driver exposes the handler without an access-control restriction, allowing an unprivileged Windows process to corrupt kernel memory, execute kernel code, or crash the operating system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42979
Published
Dec 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-190, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 7, 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

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-190Integer Overflow or Wraparound
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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