CVE-2021-23874McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability

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.

8.2 HIGHEPSS 1.07%⚡ Known Exploited (CISA KEV)NVD: Analyzed

Last updated: 2026-06-17 03:38 UTC

OverviewCVSS details

8.2HIGHCVSS 3.1

Score source: trellix (CNA)
NVD status: Analyzed
Published: Feb 10, 2021
Assigner: trellix

Affected

McAfee Total Protection (MTP) (McAfee,LLC)

Versions: before 16.0.30
Fixed in: 16.0.30

Exploitation

Public exploit: None listed
CISA KEV: Listed · Nov 3, 2021
KEV due date: Nov 17, 2021
Ransomware use: Unknown
SSVC: Exploitation active · Automatable no · Impact total

EPSS · FIRST, scored Nov 7

1.07%chance of exploitation in 30 days

Higher than 65.06% of CVEs

CVSS 3.1 · trellix (CNA)

8.2High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack vector: Local
Attack complexity: Low
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: Required
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality impact: High
Integrity impact: High
Availability impact: High

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

7.8High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack vector: Local
Attack complexity: Low
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality impact: High
Integrity impact: High
Availability impact: High

CVSS 2.0 · NVD

4.6Medium

AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Attack vector: Local
Attack complexity: Low
Authentication: None
Confidentiality impact: Partial
Integrity impact: Partial
Availability impact: Partial

NVD status: Analyzed

Overview Affected Products References

NVD CVE.org

Overview

Severity

Score	Severity	Version	Vector String
8.2	HIGH	3.1trellix (CNA)	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8	HIGH	3.1NVD	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6	MEDIUM	2.0NVD	AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CISA required action

⚡ Known exploited · remediation due Nov 17, 2021

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Details

CVE ID: CVE-2021-23874
Status: Analyzed
Assigner (CNA): trellix
Published: Feb 10, 2021
Last modified: 2026-06-17 03:38 UTC
Weaknesses: CWE-269 · Improper Privilege Management
CWE-732
CWE-284

Sources

Refreshed hourly from the sources above. Last fetched 2026-11-08 09:49 UTC.