How severe is CVE-2021-23891?

CVE-2021-23891 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-23891 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (26th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-23891?

CVE-2021-23891 affects Mcafee Total Protection. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-23891?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-23891 published?

CVE-2021-23891 was published on 2021-05-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-23891

CVE-2021-23891 is a high-severity vulnerability in Mcafee Total Protection with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-269.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 4.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (26th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-269
Affected product: Mcafee Total Protection
Published: 2021-05-12
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Privilege Escalation vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.32 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges by impersonating a client token which could lead to the bypassing of MTP self-defense.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-23891?: Privilege Escalation vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.32 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges by impersonating a client token which could lead to the bypassing of MTP self-defense.
How severe is CVE-2021-23891?: CVE-2021-23891 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-23891 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (26th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-23891?: CVE-2021-23891 affects Mcafee Total Protection. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-23891?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-23891 published?: CVE-2021-23891 was published on 2021-05-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?&id=TS103146

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:total_protection:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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