cbcvebase.
CVE-2021-31956
published 2021-06-08

CVE-2021-31956: Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

high7.8CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSUCHIHAH
KEVITWEXPLOIT
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilitydue 2021-11-17
Exploited in the wild
EPSS
20.27%
97.2th percentile
Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Affected

37 ranges· showing 25
VendorProductVersion rangeFixed in
microsoftwindows_10_version_1507>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.10240.1896710.0.10240.18967
microsoftwindows_10_version_1607>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.14393.446710.0.14393.4467
microsoftwindows_10_version_1809>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.199910.0.17763.1999
microsoftwindows_10_version_1909>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.18363.162110.0.18363.1621
microsoftwindows_10_version_2004>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.19041.105210.0.19041.1052
microsoftwindows_10_version_20h2>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.105210.0.19042.1052
microsoftwindows_10_version_21h1>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.19043.105210.0.19043.1052
microsoftwindows_7>= 6.1.0 < 6.1.7601.256326.1.7601.25632
microsoftwindows_7_service_pack_1>= 6.1.0 < 6.1.7601.256326.1.7601.25632
microsoftwindows_8.1>= 6.3.0 < 6.3.9600.200456.3.9600.20045
microsoftwindows_8.1>= 6.3.0 < 6.3.9600.200446.3.9600.20044
microsoftwindows_server_2008_r2_service_pack_1>= 6.0.0 < 6.1.7601.256326.1.7601.25632
microsoftwindows_server_2008_r2_service_pack_1>= 6.1.0 < 6.1.7601.256326.1.7601.25632
microsoftwindows_server_2008_service_pack_2>= 6.0.0 < 6.0.6003.211376.0.6003.21137
microsoftwindows_server_2012>= 6.2.0 < 6.2.9200.233726.2.9200.23372
microsoftwindows_server_2012_r2>= 6.3.0 < 6.3.9600.200456.3.9600.20045
microsoftwindows_server_2012_r2>= 6.3.0 < 6.3.9600.200446.3.9600.20044
microsoftwindows_server_2016>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.14393.446710.0.14393.4467
microsoftwindows_server_2019>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.17763.199910.0.17763.1999
microsoftwindows_server_version_2004>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.19041.105210.0.19041.1052
microsoftwindows_server_version_20h2>= 10.0.0 < 10.0.19042.105210.0.19042.1052
msrcwindows_10
msrcwindows_10_version_1607
msrcwindows_10_version_1809
msrcwindows_10_version_1909

Detection & IOCsextracted from sources · hover to see the quote

path%SYSTEM%\WmiPrvMon.exe
path%SYSTEM%\wmimon.dll
filenameWmiPrvMon.exe
filenamewmimon.dll
processntfs.sys
  • The exploit chains CVE-2021-31956 with Windows Notification Facility (WNF) to achieve arbitrary kernel memory read/write primitives. Detect unusual WNF state name creation or subscription activity from non-system processes, especially following browser exploitation.
  • The dropper installs WmiPrvMon.exe as a Windows service to act as a launcher for wmimon.dll (remote shell). Hunt for new services registered with names/paths matching WmiPrvMon.exe in the SYSTEM32 directory, especially those loading wmimon.dll.
  • The EoP exploit was targeted specifically at Windows 10 builds 17763, 18362, 18363, 19041, and 19042. Prioritize detection and patching efforts on these build numbers.
  • ·CVE-2021-31956 is chained with CVE-2021-31955 (info disclosure in ntoskrnl.exe/SuperFetch) to leak the EPROCESS kernel address before triggering the overflow. Detection of CVE-2021-31956 exploitation in isolation may miss the full chain; monitor for NtQuerySystemInformation calls using SuperfetchPrivSourceQuery class as a precursor.
  • ·The Chrome RCE exploit used in the same attack chain (suspected CVE-2021-21224) was not recovered; the full exploit chain cannot be fully replicated or detected end-to-end from available samples.

CVSS provenance

nvdv3.17.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv2.09.3CRITICALAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
cvelistv57.8HIGH
vulncheck7.8HIGH
cisa7.8HIGH
vendor_msrc7.8HIGH
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