Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Dell SupportAssist Client Consumer on Windows can let a regular local user delete files that should require administrator access. The issue affects version 3.9.13.0 and earlier. This is primarily an endpoint integrity and availability risk, not a remote network compromise based on the supplied evidence.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint hygiene issue. It is not evidenced as remotely exploitable, but it can damage protected system files from a low-privileged account and may support broader compromise if combined with other local techniques.
Technical view
CVE-2021-36286 is an arbitrary file deletion flaw in SupportAssist Client Consumer cleanup behavior. The component fails to distinguish NTFS junction points from physical folders, allowing a low-privileged local user to redirect cleanup to protected files. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1: local attack, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Windows endpoints running Dell SupportAssist Client Consumer version 3.9.13.0 or any earlier version. The supplied sources do not identify enterprise server products, remote attack surfaces, or affected non-Windows platforms.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector requires local access and low privileges. The supplied bundle does not report public exploitation, exploitation in the wild, or CISA KEV listing. Treat this as a local privilege-boundary and destructive file deletion risk.
Researcher notes
The key behavior is junction-point handling during cleanup, resulting in arbitrary deletion of admin-accessible files. The supplied evidence does not include exploit code, observed attacks, or exact fixed-version details. Validation should focus on installed version exposure and vendor remediation status.
Mitigation direction
- Identify endpoints running Dell SupportAssist Client Consumer.
- Review Dell advisory DSA-2021-163 for vendor-approved update guidance.
- Upgrade or remove affected SupportAssist versions according to Dell guidance.
- Restrict local interactive access on shared or high-value endpoints.
- Prioritize systems used by administrators or privileged support staff.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed SupportAssist Client Consumer versions across Windows endpoints.
- Confirm whether version 3.9.13.0 or earlier is present.
- Verify remediation against Dell advisory DSA-2021-163.
- Check endpoint logs for suspicious local file deletion events.
- Document exceptions where SupportAssist cannot be updated or removed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-36286 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H1.85.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000191057/dsa-2021-163-dell-supportassist-client-consumer-security-update-for-two-vulnerabilitiesCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.