CVEs / CVE-2021-34527

CVE-2021-34527: Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

• Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 3 Nov 2021
• high 9 CVSS 2.0 (NVD)
• EPSS 99.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
• Last changed at its sources 10 Aug 2026

Summary

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler contains an unspecified vulnerability due to the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performing privileged file operations. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to perform remote code execution with SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability is also known under the moniker of PrintNightmare.

Description

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. UPDATE July 7, 2021: The security update for Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10, Version 1607 have been released. Please see the Security Updates table for the applicable update for your system. We recommend that you install these updates immediately. If you are unable to install these updates, see the FAQ and Workaround sections in this CVE for information on how to help protect your system from this vulnerability. In addition to installing the updates, in order to secure your system, you must confirm that the following registry settings are set to 0 (zero) or are not defined (Note: These registry keys do not exist by default, and therefore are already at the secure setting.), also that your Group Policy setting are correct (see FAQ): HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\PointAndPrint NoWarningNoElevationOnInstall = 0 (DWORD) or not defined (default setting) UpdatePromptSettings = 0 (DWORD) or not defined (default setting) Having NoWarningNoElevationOnInstall set to 1 makes your system vulnerable by design. UPDATE July 6, 2021: Microsoft has completed the investigation and has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Please see the Security Updates table for the applicable update for your system. We recommend that you install these updates immediately. If you are unable to install these updates, see the FAQ and Workaround sections in this CVE for information on how to help protect your system from this vulnerability. See also KB5005010: Restricting installation of new printer drivers after applying the July 6, 2021 updates. Note that the security updates released on and after July 6, 2021 contain protections for CVE-2021-1675 and the additional remote code execution exploit in the Windows Print Spooler service known as “PrintNightmare”, documented in CVE-2021-34527.

Affected and fixed versions

Exploitation

Severity

References

• CVE-2021-34527 on NVD
• CVE-2021-34527 in the CISA KEV catalog
• https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/ed-21-04-mitigate-windows-print-spooler-service-vulnerability (cited by CISA)
• https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-34527 Patch, Vendor Advisory
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167261/Print-Spooler-Remote-DLL-Injection.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2021-34527 Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
• https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/383432 Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
• https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2021-34527-printnightmare-detection-script Exploit, Third Party Advisory
• https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2021-34527-printnightmare-mitigation-script Exploit, Third Party Advisory
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-34527 US Government Resource