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CVE Record

CVE-2021-33101: Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) GPA software before version 21.2 may allow an authenticated user t...

Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) GPA software before version 21.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Intel GPA before version 21.2 has a local privilege-escalation issue caused by unsafe search path handling. A logged-in user on an affected machine could potentially gain higher privileges. This is most relevant where Intel GPA is installed on developer, test, or graphics analysis systems.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority workstation hardening issue, not an internet-edge emergency. Patch affected Intel GPA installations promptly, especially on shared engineering or testing machines where local account misuse is plausible.

Technical view

CVE-2021-33101 is a CWE-427 uncontrolled search path flaw in Intel GPA software before 21.2. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8, with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to systems with Intel GPA software installed before version 21.2. The source bundle does not identify broader Intel products, remote attack surfaces, or specific operating systems.

Exploitation context

The evidence supports local authenticated exploitation potential only. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source in the bundle states active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The public detail is sparse: uncontrolled search path, local access, authenticated user, and fixed version boundary are identified. The bundle does not provide exploit mechanics, vulnerable components, or detection indicators.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Intel GPA software to version 21.2 or later.
  • Review Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00574 for vendor-specific guidance.
  • Prioritize systems where untrusted or shared local users can log in.
  • Remove Intel GPA from systems where it is no longer needed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory endpoints for Intel GPA installations and versions.
  • Flag Intel GPA versions earlier than 21.2 as affected.
  • Confirm remediation by verifying installed version is 21.2 or later.
  • Check whether affected systems allow non-administrator local user access.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-427: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-33101 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-33101Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aIntel(R) GPA softwarebefore version 21.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-427

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-427 · source CWE mapping

Uncontrolled Search Path Element

Uncontrolled Search Path Element represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs