Is CVE-2021-23874 actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-23874 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed.

Can CVE-2021-23874 be exploited remotely?

The attack vector of CVE-2021-23874 has not been classified yet.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-23874?

CVE-2021-23874 has not received a CVSS score yet.

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-23874

HIGHCISA KEVIN THE WILD

CVE-2021-23874

Published: November 3, 2021

EPSS:0.85%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:74.6th

Official 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.

NVD Source

CISA KEV Advisory

McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

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.

Added to KEV: 2021-11-03Federal patch deadline: 2021-11-17

Required Action (CISA)

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Risk Analysis

This vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) involves improper privilege management, allowing a local user to bypass MTP's self-defense mechanisms and gain elevated privileges to execute code. The inclusion in CISA's KEV catalog indicates confirmed exploitation, making this a critical local privilege escalation.

Active exploitation of this vulnerability has been observed in the wild. This is a local exploitation scenario, requiring an attacker to have initial access to the system.

Recommended Action

Users should update McAfee Total Protection to the latest version. Regularly review and restrict local user privileges to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities.

Generated by the CTIWATCH analysis pipeline from this CVE's metadata (CVSS, EPSS, KEV status, exploit intelligence). Verify against vendor advisories before acting.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-23874 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

CISA has added CVE-2021-23874 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. U.S. federal agencies are required to patch this within the mandated timeframe, and all organizations should treat remediation as urgent.