CVE-2021-1681 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2021
Windows WalletService Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2021-1686, CVE-2021-1687, CVE-2021-1690.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2024
The Windows WalletService elevation of privilege vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Windows operating systems that allows attackers to escalate their privileges from a standard user account to system-level access. This vulnerability specifically affects the WalletService component which manages digital wallet functionality and credential storage within the Windows ecosystem. The flaw stems from improper access controls and privilege validation mechanisms within the service implementation, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system-level privileges.
The technical root cause of CVE-2021-1681 resides in the WalletService's handling of inter-process communications and privilege checks during credential management operations. When the service processes certain API calls or manages wallet data, it fails to properly validate the privileges of the calling process or user context. This insufficient validation allows a local attacker with standard user rights to manipulate the service behavior and execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests when the WalletService performs operations that should require system-level permissions but instead accepts requests from lower-privileged processes without adequate verification.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for enterprise environments and individual users alike. Attackers can exploit this flaw to bypass standard security controls and gain system-level access, potentially enabling them to install persistent malware, modify critical system files, access sensitive data, or establish backdoor access to compromised systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, often allowing attackers to achieve privilege escalation through simple application execution or system interaction. Organizations may face widespread compromise if multiple systems are running affected Windows versions and the WalletService is active.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1681 should focus on immediate patch management and system hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates that address the privilege escalation flaw by correcting the access control validation mechanisms within WalletService. Organizations should prioritize applying these patches across all affected systems and monitor for any exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing strict application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for unusual WalletService activity or unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving exploit for privilege escalation. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.