CVE-2021-38086 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Acronis Cyber Protect 15 for Windows and Acronis Agent for Windows were vulnerable to local privilege escalation via DLL hijacking.

Understanding CVE-2021-38086

This CVE describes a vulnerability in Acronis Cyber Protect 15 for Windows and Acronis Agent for Windows that allowed attackers to escalate privileges locally.

What is CVE-2021-38086?

Acronis Cyber Protect 15 for Windows before build 27009 and Acronis Agent for Windows before build 26226 had a security flaw that enabled local privilege escalation through DLL hijacking.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38086

The vulnerability could be exploited by local attackers to elevate their privileges on the affected Windows systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38086

Acronis Cyber Protect 15 for Windows and Acronis Agent for Windows were susceptible to DLL hijacking.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allowed local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges due to DLL hijacking in the affected Acronis products.

Affected Systems and Versions

Acronis Cyber Protect 15 for Windows before build 27009
Acronis Agent for Windows before build 26226

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit DLL hijacking by loading a malicious DLL file to gain elevated privileges on the target Windows systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-38086.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Acronis Cyber Protect 15 for Windows and Acronis Agent for Windows to the latest builds to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor for any suspicious activities on the systems.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit potential attack surfaces.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for users to raise awareness of potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Acronis has released updates to address the DLL hijacking vulnerability in both products. Ensure timely installation of these updates to secure the systems.