CVE-2021-34481: Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Severity: high (CVSS 7.5 v2.0)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 47.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2021-07-16 · updated 2026-08-10
Weakness: CWE-269

Description

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. UPDATE August 10, 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. This security update changes the Point and Print default behavior; please see KB5005652.

Affected products

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607: 20h2, 21h1, 1607, 1809, 1909, 2004
Microsoft Windows 7: all versions
Microsoft Windows 8.1: all versions
Microsoft Windows RT 8.1: all versions
Microsoft Windows Server 2008: r2-sp1
Microsoft Windows Server 2012: all versions
Microsoft Windows Server 2016: 2004
Microsoft Windows Server 2019: all versions
Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507: from 10.0.10240.0 before 10.0.10240.19022 — fixed in 10.0.10240.19022
Microsoft Windows 10 1607: from 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.4583 — fixed in 10.0.14393.4583
Microsoft Windows 10: from 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.2114 — fixed in 10.0.17763.2114
Microsoft Windows 10 1909: from 10.0.0 before 10.0.18363.1734 — fixed in 10.0.18363.1734
Microsoft Windows 10 2004: from 10.0.0 before 10.0.19041.1165 — fixed in 10.0.19041.1165
Microsoft Windows 10 20H2: from 10.0.0 before 10.0.19042.1165 — fixed in 10.0.19042.1165
Microsoft Windows 10 21H1: from 10.0.0 before 10.0.19043.1165 — fixed in 10.0.19043.1165
Microsoft Windows 7: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.25685 — fixed in 6.1.7601.25685
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1: from 6.1.0 before 6.1.7601.25685 — fixed in 6.1.7601.25685
Microsoft Windows 8.1: from 6.3.0 before 6.3.9600.20094 — fixed in 6.3.9600.20094
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1: from 6.1.7601.0 before 6.1.7601.25685 — fixed in 6.1.7601.25685
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: from 6.0.6003.0 before 6.0.6003.21192 — fixed in 6.0.6003.21192
Microsoft Windows Server 2012: from 6.2.9200.0 before 6.2.9200.23435 — fixed in 6.2.9200.23435
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2: from 6.3.9600.0 before 6.3.9600.20094 — fixed in 6.3.9600.20094
Microsoft Windows Server 2016: from 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.4583 — fixed in 10.0.14393.4583
Microsoft Windows Server 2019: from 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.2114 — fixed in 10.0.17763.2114
Microsoft Windows Server version 2004: from 10.0.0 before 10.0.19041.1165 — fixed in 10.0.19041.1165
Microsoft Windows Server version 20H2: from 10.0.0 before 10.0.19042.1165 — fixed in 10.0.19042.1165

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507 10.0.10240.19022; Microsoft Windows 10 1607 10.0.14393.4583; Microsoft Windows 10 10.0.17763.2114; Microsoft Windows 10 1909 10.0.18363.1734; Microsoft Windows 10 2004 10.0.19041.1165; Microsoft Windows 10 20H2 10.0.19042.1165; Microsoft Windows 10 21H1 10.0.19043.1165; Microsoft Windows 7 6.1.7601.25685; Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.25685; Microsoft Windows 8.1 6.3.9600.20094; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 6.1.7601.25685; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 6.0.6003.21192. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

Get alerted when CVE-2021-34481 or the next vulnerability affects your stack