Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-47810 affects WibuKey Runtime 6.51 on Windows. A service path is not quoted correctly, which can let a local low-privileged attacker place a malicious executable in a matching path and run code with higher privileges. This is a local privilege-escalation issue, not a remote internet attack by itself.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority local privilege-escalation issue on systems running WibuKey Runtime 6.51. It is not shown as actively exploited, but a public exploit reference increases operational risk. Prioritize inventory and vendor-guided remediation, especially on shared or high-value workstations.
Technical view
The WkSvW32.exe service in WibuKey Runtime 6.51 uses an unquoted path: C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\WIBUKEY\SERVER\WkSvW32.exe. This is CWE-428. With local access and low privileges, an attacker may abuse Windows service path parsing to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges. CVSS v4.0 score is 8.5 high.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Windows systems running WibuKey Runtime 6.51 with the WkSvW32.exe service installed. Systems using WibuKey for licensing or protected software should be inventoried. The source bundle does not identify other affected versions.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided data. A public Exploit-DB reference exists, but the sources do not prove active exploitation. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges, so risk is highest on shared workstations, engineering systems, and environments where users can write to relevant paths.
Researcher notes
Evidence is specific to WibuKey Runtime 6.51 and the WkSvW32.exe service. The provided sources do not name a fixed version or official workaround. Avoid assuming broader product impact. Validate exposure by version, service presence, path quoting, and filesystem permissions.
Mitigation direction
- Check Wibu guidance and the Wibu software download page for supported updates.
- Prioritize upgrade or vendor-approved remediation for WibuKey Runtime 6.51 installations.
- Restrict local write permissions on service path parent directories where vendor guidance permits.
- Reduce unnecessary local user privileges on systems running WibuKey Runtime.
- Monitor affected hosts for suspicious service-related file creation or privilege-escalation activity.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for WibuKey Runtime 6.51.
- Confirm whether the WkSvW32.exe service is installed.
- Review the service executable path for unquoted spaces.
- Check directory permissions along the service path for unsafe write access.
- Document findings and validate remediation against vendor guidance.
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-428: 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-47810 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
- 8.5 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
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:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.5HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-49999CVE reference · exploit
- Vendor HomepageCVE reference · product
- Software Download PageCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: WibuKey Runtime 6.51 - 'WkSvW32.exe' Unquoted Service PathCVE reference · third-party-advisory
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.
Unquoted Search Path or Element
Unquoted Search Path or Element represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.