---
title: "CVE-2021-36934: Windows Elevation of Privilege… | CubePath"
description: "An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists because of overly permissive Access Control Lists (ACLs) on multiple system files, including the Security…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-36934
---

# CVE-2021-36934: Windows Elevation of Privilege… | CubePath

## Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists because of overly permissive Access Control Lists (ACLs) on multiple system files, including the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database. 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. An attacker must have the ability to execute code on a victim system to exploit this vulnerability. After installing this security update, you must manually delete all shadow copies of system files, including the SAM database, to fully mitigate this vulnerabilty. Simply installing this security update will not fully mitigate this vulnerability. See KB5005357- Delete Volume Shadow Copies.

Official description from the CVE record, published by microsoft. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36934)

## Key data

### CVSS 3.1 High 7.8

Score published by microsoft in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:T/RC:C

| Metric                 | Value     | What it means                                                                             |
| ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Attack vector          | Local     | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity      | Low       | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.                     |
| Privileges required    | Low       | A basic user account is needed.                                                           |
| User interaction       | None      | No action from any user is needed.                                                        |
| Scope                  | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component.                                         |
| Confidentiality impact | High      | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.                                           |
| Integrity impact       | High      | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.                                   |
| Availability impact    | High      | Serious or total effect on availability.                                                  |

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) .

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.67252 (67.3% probability)

Percentile

99.3%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog

Microsoft Windows SAM Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Added to the catalog

Feb 10, 2022

Federal due date

Feb 24, 2022

### CISA assessment as of Feb 4, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation

Recorded by CISA as active

Automatable

no

Technical impact

total

## Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809

  - affected: 10.0.17763.0 up to before 10.0.17763.2114
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809

  - affected: 10.0.0 up to before 10.0.17763.2114
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1909

  - affected: 10.0.0 up to before 10.0.18363.1734
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 2004

  - affected: 10.0.0 up to before 10.0.19041.1165
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 20H2

  - affected: 10.0.0 up to before 10.0.19042.1165
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H1

  - affected: 10.0.0 up to before 10.0.19043.1165

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36934)  (msrc.microsoft.com) vendor-advisory patch
- [kb.cert.org/vuls/id/506989](https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/506989)
- [portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/…](https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-36934)
- [packetstormsecurity.com/files/164006/HiveNightmare-AKA-Seri…](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164006/HiveNightmare-AKA-SeriousSAM.html)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Jul 19, 2021
2. Record published Jul 22, 2021
3. Added to CISA KEV Feb 10, 2022
4. Record last updated Aug 10, 2026

## Look up another CVE

## About CubePath

CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection.

[Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection)

Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 20:04 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)