CVE-2021-31854

Code injection vulnerability in McAfee Agent

Published Jan 19, 2022 CVSS 3.1 · 7.7 High EPSS 1.0% KEV · Not listed

Description

A command Injection Vulnerability in McAfee Agent (MA) for Windows prior to 5.7.5 allows local users to inject arbitrary shell code into the file cleanup.exe. The malicious clean.exe file is placed into the relevant folder and executed by running the McAfee Agent deployment feature located in the System Tree. An attacker may exploit the vulnerability to obtain a reverse shell which can lead to privilege escalation to obtain root privileges.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

McAfee,LLC

McAfee Agent for Windows

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`unspecified`	affected	< 5.7.5

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:agent:*:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*

No data.

No data available yet.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
EUVD	EUVD-2021-18729	A command Injection Vulnerability in McAfee Agent (MA) for Windows prior to 5.7.5 allows local users to inject arbitrary shell code into the file cleanup.exe. The malicious clean.exe file is placed into the relevant folder and executed by running the McAfee Agent deployment feature located in the System Tree. An attacker may exploit the vulnerability to obtain a reverse shell which can lead to privilege escalation to obtain root privileges.

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required High

Scope Changed

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction Required

No CVSS v3.0

Access Vector Network

Access Complexity Medium

Authentication None

Confidentiality Impact Complete

Integrity Impact Complete

Availability Impact Complete

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: 1.0% (1.012% probability within 30 days)

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

References

Link	Providers
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10378

History

Feb 24, 2026 5:00 PM Description updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description	A command Injection Vulnerability in McAfee Agent (MA) for Windows prior to 5.7.5 allows local users to inject arbitrary shell code into the file cleanup.exe. The malicious clean.exe file is placed into the relevant folder and executed by running the McAfee Agent deployment feature located in the System Tree. An attacker may exploit the vulnerability to obtain a reverse shell which can lead to privilege escalation to obtain root privileges.	A command Injection Vulnerability in McAfee Agent (MA) for Windows prior to 5.7.5 allows local users to inject arbitrary shell code into the file cleanup.exe. The malicious clean.exe file is placed into the relevant folder and executed by running the McAfee Agent deployment feature located in the System Tree. An attacker may exploit the vulnerability to obtain a reverse shell which can lead to privilege escalation to obtain root privileges.