CVE-2021-36934
Published 2021-07-22 · Updated 2026-08-10 · Source secure@microsoft.com
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.
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA Known-Exploited Vulnerability
Product: Microsoft — Windows
Name: Microsoft Windows SAM Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Date added: 2022-02-10 · Due: 2022-02-24
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
References
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36934
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164006/HiveNightmare-AKA-SeriousSAM.html
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-36934
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/506989
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-36934

