CVE-2021-45441

SYSTEM code execution via unvalidated pipe commands

Published Jan 8, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Origin validation error in Trend Micro Apex One 2019 and SaaS allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The Apex One NT RealTime Scan service accepts commands over a pipe without sufficiently validating their origin after a crafted file is dropped and manipulated. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows endpoint is required, and successful exploitation grants SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Origin validation error in Trend Micro Apex One 2019 and SaaS allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The Apex One NT RealTime Scan service accepts commands over a pipe without sufficiently validating their origin after a crafted file is dropped and manipulated. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows endpoint is required, and successful exploitation grants SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45441
Published
Jan 8, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Apex One
Classifications
CWE-346, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 8, 2022CVE 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=2019, SaaS

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Apex Oneversion=2019, SaaS

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend MicroCVSS:3.0/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
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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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-346Origin Validation Error
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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