CVE-2021-31853

MDE DLL Search Order Hijacking vulnerability

HIGH

7.8

CVSS Score

Published: November 10, 2021 at 09:00 AM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:52 AM UTC

1 product affected across 1 vendorDrive Encryption

Using McAfee Drive Encryption (MDE) by McAfee,LLC?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect McAfee Drive Encryption (MDE) - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available

Start Free Sign In

Severity

HIGH7.8

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.2%

Description

DLL Search Order Hijacking Vulnerability in McAfee Drive Encryption (MDE) prior to 7.3.0 HF2 (7.3.0.183) allows local users to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges via execution from a compromised folder.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Drive Encryption · McAfee

95%

v < 7.3.0 HF27.2.0 ≤ v ≤ 7.2.107.3.0 7.3.0 hotfix1

Affected range stops below 7.3.0 HF2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

References (1)

x_refsource_CONFIRMBroken Link

Source: [email protected]

https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10374

CVSS

7.8HIGHtrellix

Attack Vector: LOCAL
Complexity: LOW
Privileges: LOW
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality: HIGH
Integrity: HIGH
Availability: HIGH

Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED

CWE

CWE-427

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Create account Sign in

Free plan, no card