Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

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Summary

CVECVE-2021-34481
StatePUBLISHED
Assignermicrosoft
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2021-07-16 21:15:10 UTC
Updated2026-08-10 16:17:49 UTC
DescriptionA remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. UPDATE August 10, 2021: Microsoft has completed the investigation and has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Please see the Security Updates table for the applicable update for your system. We recommend that you install these updates immediately. This security update changes the Point and Print default behavior; please see KB5005652.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 9.8 CRITICAL from [email protected]

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS: 0.474370000 probability, percentile 0.987300000 (date 2026-08-11)

Problem Types: CWE-269 | Remote Code Execution

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1[email protected]Secondary9.8CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1[email protected]Secondary8.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1CNACVSS8.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
2.0[email protected]Primary7.5AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v2.0 Breakdown

Access Vector
Network
Access Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
Partial
Availability
Partial

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

NVD Known Affected Configurations (CPE 2.3)

TypeVendorProductVersionUpdateEditionLanguage
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 - All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 1607 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 1809 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 1909 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 2004 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 20h2 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 21h1 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 - sp1 All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8.1 - All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1 - All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2008 - sp2 All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2 sp1 All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2012 - All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2016 - All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2016 2004 All All All
Operating System Microsoft Windows Server 2019 - All All All

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507 affected 10.0.10240.0 10.0.10240.19022 custom 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 affected 10.0.14393.0 10.0.14393.4583 custom 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 affected 10.0.17763.0 10.0.17763.2114 custom 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 affected 10.0.0 10.0.17763.2114 custom ARM64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909 affected 10.0.0 10.0.18363.1734 custom 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004 affected 10.0.0 10.0.19041.1165 custom 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 20H2 affected 10.0.0 10.0.19042.1165 custom 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H1 affected 10.0.0 10.0.19043.1165 custom 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 7 affected 6.1.0 6.1.7601.25685 custom 32-bit Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 affected 6.1.0 6.1.7601.25685 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows 8.1 affected 6.3.0 6.3.9600.20094 custom 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 affected 6.1.7601.0 6.1.7601.25685 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Server Core Installation affected 6.1.7601.0 6.1.7601.25685 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 affected 6.0.6003.0 6.0.6003.21192 custom 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Server Core Installation affected 6.0.6003.0 6.0.6003.21192 custom 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2012 affected 6.2.9200.0 6.2.9200.23435 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Server Core Installation affected 6.2.9200.0 6.2.9200.23435 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 affected 6.3.9600.0 6.3.9600.20094 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Core Installation affected 6.3.9600.0 6.3.9600.20094 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2016 affected 10.0.14393.0 10.0.14393.4583 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Server Core Installation affected 10.0.14393.0 10.0.14393.4583 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2019 affected 10.0.17763.0 10.0.17763.2114 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Server Core Installation affected 10.0.17763.0 10.0.17763.2114 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server Version 2004 affected 10.0.0 10.0.19041.1165 custom x64-based Systems
CNA Microsoft Windows Server Version 20H2 affected 10.0.0 10.0.19042.1165 custom x64-based Systems

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
Security Update Guide - Microsoft Security Response Center af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 portal.msrc.microsoft.com Patch, Vendor Advisory
msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-34481 [email protected] msrc.microsoft.com
CVE Program record CVE.ORG www.cve.org canonical
NVD vulnerability detail NVD nvd.nist.gov canonical, analysis

Legacy QID Mappings

  • 91796 Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

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