CVE-2021-37852 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Discover the privilege escalation vulnerability (LPE) in ESET products for Windows (CVE-2021-37852), allowing untrusted processes to impersonate a pipe client and escalate privileges.
A privilege escalation vulnerability (LPE) in ESET products for Windows was discovered on January 31, 2022. The vulnerability allows an untrusted process to impersonate the client of a pipe, potentially leading to privilege escalation in the context of NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.
Understanding CVE-2021-37852
This section will delve into the specifics of CVE-2021-37852.
What is CVE-2021-37852?
The vulnerability in ESET products for Windows enables an untrusted process to impersonate a pipe client, permitting an attacker to escalate privileges in the context of NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.
The Impact of CVE-2021-37852
The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 7.8. It has a low attack complexity and vector, but high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-37852
This section will provide more technical details about CVE-2021-37852.
Vulnerability Description
ESET products for Windows are affected by a vulnerability that allows privilege escalation through impersonation of a pipe client.
Affected Systems and Versions
The affected ESET products include NOD32 Antivirus, Internet Security, Smart Security, Endpoint Security, Server Security for Windows, and other related products with specific vulnerable versions.
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to escalate privileges on a compromised system.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section will outline steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-37852.
Immediate Steps to Take
To mitigate the risk, users can disable the 'Enable advanced scanning via AMSI' option in ESET products' Advanced setup. However, it is strongly recommended to upgrade to a fixed product version.
Long-Term Security Practices
In the long term, keeping all software updated and applying security patches promptly can help prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
ESET has released fixed versions of the affected products to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to update their ESET products to the latest patched versions.