CVE-2021-47974Public exploit

LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service paths

Published May 16, 2026 · Updated May 16, 2026

Unquoted service paths in VX Search 13.5.28 allow local users to execute code as LocalSystem when affected services restart. The Server and Enterprise services register unquoted executable paths under C:\Program Files, so Windows can select an attacker-planted executable from a parent path. A local user must be able to place that file, and execution occurs when either LocalSystem service starts or restarts.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Unquoted service paths in VX Search 13.5.28 allow local users to execute code as LocalSystem when affected services restart. The Server and Enterprise services register unquoted executable paths under C:\Program Files, so Windows can select an attacker-planted executable from a parent path. A local user must be able to place that file, and execution occurs when either LocalSystem service starts or restarts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-47974
Published
May 16, 2026
Updated
May 16, 2026
Vendor
Flexense Ltd.
Product
VX Search
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 16, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=13.5.28

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Flexense Ltd. · VX Searchversion=13.5.28

Published CVSS scores

8.5VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8VulnCheckCVSS: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

CWE-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
T1574.009Hijack Execution Flow: Path Interception by Unquoted Path

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo