CVE-2021-4481

SYSTEM privilege escalation via replaceable program files

Published Jun 2, 2026 · Updated Jun 2, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Dräger Protector Software before 6.4.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with NT SYSTEM privileges. Insecure ACLs on installed binaries or loaded modules permit their replacement before a privileged process loads or runs them. Local filesystem access and subsequent user interaction are required; successful replacement compromises system integrity and can interrupt service.

CVSS severity8.3
High
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Dräger Protector Software before 6.4.2 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with NT SYSTEM privileges. Insecure ACLs on installed binaries or loaded modules permit their replacement before a privileged process loads or runs them. Local filesystem access and subsequent user interaction are required; successful replacement compromises system integrity and can interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4481
Published
Jun 2, 2026
Updated
Jun 2, 2026
Vendor
Dräger
Product
Protector Software
Classifications
CWE-732, CAPEC-642, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 2, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 2, 2026Record 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=0 <6.4.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Dräger · Protector Softwareversion=0 <6.4.2

Published CVSS scores

8.3VulnCheck CNACVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:H/SA:H
8.2VulnCheck CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
CAPEC-642Replace Binaries
T1574Hijack Execution Flow

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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