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CVE-2021-22159

Status: ModifiedHigh (7.8)—

Insider Threat Management Windows Agent Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability The Proofpoint Insider Threat Management (formerly ObserveIT) Agent for Windows before 7.4.3, 7.5.4, 7.6.5, 7.7.5, 7.8.4, 7.9.3, 7.10.2, and 7.11.0.25 as well as versions 7.3 and earlier is missing authentication for a critical function, which allows a local authenticated Windows user to run arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Windows SYSTEM user. Agents for MacOS, Linux, and ITM Cloud are not affected.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

Proofpoint — Insider Threat Management

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2021-22159",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 7.2,
          "accessVector": "LOCAL",
          "vectorString": "AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "accessComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 10,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
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        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "cve@mitre.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "product": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "n/a"
            }
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  ],
  "published": "2021-01-26T20:15:12.227",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.proofpoint.com/us/security/security-advisories",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.proofpoint.com/us/security/security-advisories/pfpt-sa-2021-0001",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
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      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.proofpoint.com/us/security/security-advisories",
      "tags": [
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      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.proofpoint.com/us/security/security-advisories/pfpt-sa-2021-0001",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-306"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Insider Threat Management Windows Agent Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability The Proofpoint Insider Threat Management (formerly ObserveIT) Agent for Windows before 7.4.3, 7.5.4, 7.6.5, 7.7.5, 7.8.4, 7.9.3, 7.10.2, and 7.11.0.25 as well as versions 7.3 and earlier is missing authentication for a critical function, which allows a local authenticated Windows user to run arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Windows SYSTEM user. Agents for MacOS, Linux, and ITM Cloud are not affected."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Una Vulnerabilidad de Escalada de Privilegios Local en Insider Threat Management Windows Agent. El Proofpoint Insider Threat Management (anteriormente ObserveIT) Agent para Windows versiones anteriores a 7.4.3, 7.5.4, 7.6.5, 7.7.5, 7.8.4, 7.9.3, 7.10.2, y 7.11.0.25, así como las versiones 7.3 y anteriores, carecen de autenticación para una función crítica, que permite a un usuario de Windows autenticado local ejecutar comandos arbitrarios con los privilegios del usuario SYSTEM de Windows. Los agentes para MacOS, Linux e ITM Cloud no están afectados"
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T03:36:43.253",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
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  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}