Vulnerability Description
<p>A 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.</p> <p>UPDATE July 7, 2021: The security update for Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10, Version 1607 have been released. Please see the Security Updates table for the applicable update for your system. We recommend that you install these updates immediately. If you are unable to install these updates, see the FAQ and Workaround sections in this CVE for information on how to help protect your system from this vulnerability.</p> <p>In addition to installing the updates, in order to secure your system, you must confirm that the following registry settings are set to 0 (zero) or are not defined (<strong>Note</strong>: These registry keys do not exist by default, and therefore are already at the secure setting.), also that your Group Policy setting are correct (see FAQ):</p> <ul> <li>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\PointAndPrint</li> <li>NoWarningNoElevationOnInstall = 0 (DWORD) or not defined (default setting)</li> <li>UpdatePromptSettings = 0 (DWORD) or not defined (default setting)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Having NoWarningNoElevationOnInstall set to 1 makes your system vulnerable by design.</strong></p> <p>UPDATE July 6, 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. If you are unable to install these updates, see the FAQ and Workaround sections in this CVE for information on how to help protect your system from this vulnerability. See also <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/topic/31b91c02-05bc-4ada-a7ea-183b129578a7">KB5005010: Restricting installation of new printer drivers after applying the July 6, 2021 updates</a>.</p> <p>Note that the security updates released on and after July 6, 2021 contain protections for CVE-2021-1675 and the additional remote code execution exploit in the Windows Print Spooler service known as “PrintNightmare”, documented in CVE-2021-34527.</p>
CVSS Score
HIGH
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 1507 | < 10.0.10240.18969 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 1607 | < 10.0.14393.4470 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 1809 | < 10.0.17763.2029 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 20H2 | < 10.0.19042.1083 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 21H2 | < 10.0.19044.1415 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 22H2 | < 10.0.19045.2251 |
| Microsoft | Windows 11 21H2 | < 10.0.22000.318 |
| Microsoft | Windows 11 22H2 | < 10.0.22621.674 |
| Microsoft | Windows 7 | - |
| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 | - |
| Microsoft | Windows Rt 8.1 | - |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 | - |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | - |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | < 10.0.14393.4470 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | < 10.0.17763.2029 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2022 | < 10.0.20348.230 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 20H2 | < 10.0.19042.1083 |
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167261/Print-Spooler-Remote-DLL-Injection.hExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-3452MitigationPatchVendor Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167261/Print-Spooler-Remote-DLL-Injection.hExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-3452MitigationPatchVendor Advisory
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/383432Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2021-34527-printnightmare-detection-sExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2021-34527-printnightmare-mitigation-ExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-US Government Resource
FAQ
What is CVE-2021-34527?
CVE-2021-34527 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). <p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could r...
How severe is CVE-2021-34527?
CVE-2021-34527 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2021-34527?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Microsoft Windows 10 1507, Microsoft Windows 10 1607, Microsoft Windows 10 1809, Microsoft Windows 10 20H2, Microsoft Windows 10 21H2.