CVE-2021-23874 (GCVE-0-2021-23874)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2021-02-10 10:25 – Updated: 2025-10-21 23:35Title
McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability
Summary
Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense.
Severity
8.2 (High)
SSVC
Exploitation: active
Automatable: no
Technical Impact: total
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2025-02-04 21:22 UTC
CWE
- CWE-269 - Improper Privilege Management
Assigner
References
2 references
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?&id=TS103114 | x_refsource_CONFIRM |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilit… | government-resource |
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAfee,LLC | McAfee Total Protection (MTP) |
Affected:
unspecified , < 16.0.30
(custom)
|
CISA
Known Exploited Vulnerability - GCVE BCP-07 Compliant
KEV entry ID: 76e681cc-e9ec-424d-bfd2-925427c0f003
Exploited: Yes
Timestamps
First Seen: 2021-11-03
Asserted: 2021-11-03
Scope
Notes: McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability | Affected: McAfee / McAfee Total Protection (MTP) | Description: McAfee Total Protection (MTP) contains an improper privilege management vulnerability that allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute code, bypassing MTP self-defense. | Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions. | Due date: 2021-11-17 | Known ransomware campaign use (KEV): Unknown | Notes (KEV): https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23874
Evidence
Type: Vendor Report
Signal: Successful Exploitation
Confidence: 80%
Source: cisa-kev
Details
| Cwes | CWE-284 |
|---|---|
| Feed | CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog |
| Product | McAfee Total Protection (MTP) |
| Due Date | 2021-11-17 |
| Date Added | 2021-11-03 |
| Vendorproject | McAfee |
| Vulnerabilityname | McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability |
| Knownransomwarecampaignuse | Unknown |
References
Created: 2026-10-02 08:10 CEST
| Updated: 2026-10-02 08:10 CEST
Previdian
Known Exploited Vulnerability - GCVE BCP-07 Compliant
KEV entry ID: 6e593081-894d-48ae-8686-9c7f5533ebb1
Exploited: Yes
Timestamps
First Seen: 2021-11-03
Asserted: 2021-11-03
Scope
Notes: McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability | Affected: McAfee / McAfee Total Protection (MTP) | CVSS: 8.2 (HIGH) | EPSS: 0.01026 | Used in malware: unknown | Not yet in CISA KEV: False
Evidence
Type: Public Report
Signal: Successful Exploitation
Confidence: 70%
Source: previdian
Details
| Feed | Previdian (previdian.com) |
|---|---|
| Title | McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability |
| Cve Id | CVE-2021-23874 |
| Vendor | McAfee |
| Ghsa Id | None |
| Product | McAfee Total Protection (MTP) |
| Added Date | 2021-11-03T00:00:00.000Z |
| Cvss Score | 8.2 |
| Epss Score | 0.01026 |
| Previous Ids | |
| Cvss Severity | HIGH |
| Virtual Patch | False |
| Cvss Estimated | False |
| Epss Percentile | 0.62291 |
| Used In Malware | unknown |
| Vulnerability Id | CVE-2021-23874 |
| Ahead Of Cisa Kev | None |
| Not Yet In Cisa Kev | False |
References
Created: 2026-10-02 09:10 CEST
| Updated: 2026-10-02 09:10 CEST
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T19:14:09.385Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
},
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2021-23874",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "active"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2025-02-04T21:22:09.087599Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
},
{
"other": {
"content": {
"dateAdded": "2021-11-03",
"reference": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-23874"
},
"type": "kev"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-10-21T23:35:28.347Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"government-resource"
],
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-23874"
}
],
"timeline": [
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2021-11-03T00:00:00.000Z",
"value": "CVE-2021-23874 added to CISA KEV"
}
],
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"platforms": [
"Windows"
],
"product": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP)",
"vendor": "McAfee,LLC",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "16.0.30",
"status": "affected",
"version": "unspecified",
"versionType": "custom"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 8.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "CHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
}
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-269",
"description": "CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2021-02-10T10:25:24.000Z",
"orgId": "01626437-bf8f-4d1c-912a-893b5eb04808",
"shortName": "trellix"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM"
],
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"title": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 0.0.9"
},
"x_legacyV4Record": {
"CVE_data_meta": {
"ASSIGNER": "psirt@mcafee.com",
"ID": "CVE-2021-23874",
"STATE": "PUBLIC",
"TITLE": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability"
},
"affects": {
"vendor": {
"vendor_data": [
{
"product": {
"product_data": [
{
"product_name": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP)",
"version": {
"version_data": [
{
"platform": "Windows",
"version_affected": "\u003c",
"version_value": "16.0.30"
}
]
}
}
]
},
"vendor_name": "McAfee,LLC"
}
]
}
},
"data_format": "MITRE",
"data_type": "CVE",
"data_version": "4.0",
"description": {
"description_data": [
{
"lang": "eng",
"value": "Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense."
}
]
},
"generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 0.0.9"
},
"impact": {
"cvss": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 8.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "CHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
}
},
"problemtype": {
"problemtype_data": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "eng",
"value": "CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management"
}
]
}
]
},
"references": {
"reference_data": [
{
"name": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114",
"refsource": "CONFIRM",
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
}
]
},
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
}
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "01626437-bf8f-4d1c-912a-893b5eb04808",
"assignerShortName": "trellix",
"cveId": "CVE-2021-23874",
"datePublished": "2021-02-10T10:25:24.000Z",
"dateReserved": "2021-01-12T00:00:00.000Z",
"dateUpdated": "2025-10-21T23:35:28.347Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2021-23874",
"date": "2026-10-01",
"epss": "0.01026",
"percentile": "0.62291"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"platforms": [
"Windows"
],
"product": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP)",
"vendor": "McAfee,LLC",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "16.0.30",
"status": "affected",
"version": "unspecified",
"versionType": "custom"
}
]
}
],
"source": "trellixpsirt@trellix.com"
}
],
"cisaActionDue": "2021-11-17",
"cisaExploitAdd": "2021-11-03",
"cisaRequiredAction": "Apply updates per vendor instructions.",
"cisaVulnerabilityName": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability",
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:total_protection:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "D20C251F-8C1B-4359-A02B-7DE82615A291",
"versionEndExcluding": "16.0.30",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense."
},
{
"lang": "es",
"value": "Una vulnerabilidad de ejecuci\u00f3n arbitraria de procesos en McAfee Total Protection (MTP) versiones anteriores a 16.0.30, permite a un usuario local alcanzar privilegios elevados y ejecutar c\u00f3digo arbitrario omitiendo la autodefensa de MTP"
}
],
"id": "CVE-2021-23874",
"lastModified": "2026-06-17T03:38:57.850",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV2": [
{
"acInsufInfo": false,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"cvssData": {
"accessComplexity": "LOW",
"accessVector": "LOCAL",
"authentication": "NONE",
"availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
"baseScore": 4.6,
"confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
"integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
"vectorString": "AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
"version": "2.0"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
"impactScore": 6.4,
"obtainAllPrivilege": false,
"obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
"obtainUserPrivilege": false,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary",
"userInteractionRequired": false
}
],
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 8.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "CHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.5,
"impactScore": 6.0,
"source": "trellixpsirt@trellix.com",
"type": "Secondary"
},
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 7.8,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 5.9,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"id": "CVE-2021-23874",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "active"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2025-02-04T21:22:09.087599Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"published": "2021-02-10T11:15:12.943",
"references": [
{
"source": "trellixpsirt@trellix.com",
"tags": [
"Broken Link"
],
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Broken Link"
],
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
},
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"tags": [
"US Government Resource"
],
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-23874"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "trellixpsirt@trellix.com",
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-269"
}
],
"source": "trellixpsirt@trellix.com",
"type": "Secondary"
},
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-732"
}
],
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
}
},
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T19:14:09.385Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
},
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2021-23874",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "active"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2025-02-04T21:22:09.087599Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
},
{
"other": {
"content": {
"dateAdded": "2021-11-03",
"reference": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-23874"
},
"type": "kev"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-02-04T21:21:53.324Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"government-resource"
],
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-23874"
}
],
"timeline": [
{
"lang": "en",
"time": "2021-11-03T00:00:00.000Z",
"value": "CVE-2021-23874 added to CISA KEV"
}
],
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"platforms": [
"Windows"
],
"product": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP)",
"vendor": "McAfee,LLC",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "16.0.30",
"status": "affected",
"version": "unspecified",
"versionType": "custom"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 8.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "CHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
}
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-269",
"description": "CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2021-02-10T10:25:24.000Z",
"orgId": "01626437-bf8f-4d1c-912a-893b5eb04808",
"shortName": "trellix"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM"
],
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"title": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 0.0.9"
},
"x_legacyV4Record": {
"CVE_data_meta": {
"ASSIGNER": "psirt@mcafee.com",
"ID": "CVE-2021-23874",
"STATE": "PUBLIC",
"TITLE": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability"
},
"affects": {
"vendor": {
"vendor_data": [
{
"product": {
"product_data": [
{
"product_name": "McAfee Total Protection (MTP)",
"version": {
"version_data": [
{
"platform": "Windows",
"version_affected": "\u003c",
"version_value": "16.0.30"
}
]
}
}
]
},
"vendor_name": "McAfee,LLC"
}
]
}
},
"data_format": "MITRE",
"data_type": "CVE",
"data_version": "4.0",
"description": {
"description_data": [
{
"lang": "eng",
"value": "Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense."
}
]
},
"generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 0.0.9"
},
"impact": {
"cvss": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 8.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "CHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
}
},
"problemtype": {
"problemtype_data": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "eng",
"value": "CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management"
}
]
}
]
},
"references": {
"reference_data": [
{
"name": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114",
"refsource": "CONFIRM",
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103114"
}
]
},
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
}
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "01626437-bf8f-4d1c-912a-893b5eb04808",
"assignerShortName": "trellix",
"cveId": "CVE-2021-23874",
"datePublished": "2021-02-10T10:25:24.000Z",
"dateReserved": "2021-01-12T00:00:00.000Z",
"dateUpdated": "2025-10-21T23:35:28.347Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Loading…
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
Loading…