CVE-2021-46165Public exploit

SYSTEM code execution via unqualified startup path

Published Jan 9, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Uncontrolled search path in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central before 10.0.662 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. Startup and shutdown batch files invoke a missing executable without a fully qualified path, allowing a planted binary to be selected. Exploitation requires prior application-creation access and the ability to plant the binary, and execution occurs when the service starts.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central before 10.0.662 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. Startup and shutdown batch files invoke a missing executable without a fully qualified path, allowing a planted binary to be selected. Exploitation requires prior application-creation access and the ability to plant the binary, and execution occurs when the service starts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46165
Published
Jan 9, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 9, 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?

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

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

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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