CVE-2021-22038
Last modified
CVE-2021-22038 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 8.8/10 on the CVSS scale. On Windows, the uninstaller binary copies itself to a fixed temporary location, which is then executed (the originally called uninstaller exits, so it does not block the installation directory). This temporary location is not randomized and does not restrict access to Administrators only so a potential attacker could plant a binary to replace the copied binary right before it gets called, thus gaining Administrator privileges (if the original uninstaller was executed as Administrator). EPSS estimates a 0.96% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.
Description
On Windows, the uninstaller binary copies itself to a fixed temporary location, which is then executed (the originally called uninstaller exits, so it does not block the installation directory). This temporary location is not randomized and does not restrict access to Administrators only so a potential attacker could plant a binary to replace the copied binary right before it gets called, thus gaining Administrator privileges (if the original uninstaller was executed as Administrator). The vulnerability only affects Windows installers.
Metrics
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness Enumeration
Affected Software
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Vmware | Installbuilder | < 21.6.0 |
References
- https://blog.installbuilder.com/2021/10/installbuilder-2160-released.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
- https://blog.installbuilder.com/2021/10/installbuilder-2160-released.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
Timeline
- Published
- Last Modified
- Status
- Modified
Frequently Asked Questions
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