How severe is CVE-2021-42563?

CVE-2021-42563 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-42563 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-42563?

CVE-2021-42563 affects Ni Ni Service Locator. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-42563?

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-2021-42563 published?

CVE-2021-42563 was published on 2021-11-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-42563

CVE-2021-42563 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ni Ni Service Locator 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-428.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 4.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (13th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-428
Affected product: Ni Ni Service Locator
Published: 2021-11-12
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

There is an Unquoted Service Path in NI Service Locator (nisvcloc.exe) in versions prior to 18.0 on Windows. This may allow an authorized local user to insert arbitrary code into the unquoted service path and escalate privileges.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-42563?: There is an Unquoted Service Path in NI Service Locator (nisvcloc.exe) in versions prior to 18.0 on Windows. This may allow an authorized local user to insert arbitrary code into the unquoted service path and escalate privileges.
How severe is CVE-2021-42563?: CVE-2021-42563 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-42563 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-42563?: CVE-2021-42563 affects Ni Ni Service Locator. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-42563?: 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-2021-42563 published?: CVE-2021-42563 was published on 2021-11-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/documentation/supplemental/21/unquoted-service-path-in-ni-service-locator.html

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:ni:ni_service_locator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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