CVE-2022-0166

SYSTEM code execution via user-controlled OpenSSL path

Published Jan 19, 2022 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Privilege escalation in McAfee Agent for Windows before 5.7.5 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The privileged agent service loads OpenSSL configuration from an OPENSSLDIR subdirectory whose path can be created by an unprivileged user, allowing a crafted openssl.cnf file to supply executable content. Exploitation requires existing low-privilege access and control of the appropriate local path; successful execution grants Windows SYSTEM authority.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in McAfee Agent for Windows before 5.7.5 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The privileged agent service loads OpenSSL configuration from an OPENSSLDIR subdirectory whose path can be created by an unprivileged user, allowing a crafted openssl.cnf file to supply executable content. Exploitation requires existing low-privilege access and control of the appropriate local path; successful execution grants Windows SYSTEM authority.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0166
Published
Jan 19, 2022
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
McAfee
Product
McAfee Agent
Classifications
CWE-269, CWE-427, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <5.7.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

McAfee · McAfee Agentversion=unspecified <5.7.5

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8Trellix PSIRTCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
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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