CVE-2021-22038
On Windows, the uninstaller binary copies itself to a fixed temporary location, which is then executed (the originally called uninstaller exits, so it does not block the installation directory).
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.99%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
On Windows, the uninstaller binary copies itself to a fixed temporary location, which is then executed (the originally called uninstaller exits, so it does not block the installation directory). This temporary location is not randomized and does not restrict access to Administrators only so a potential attacker could plant a binary to replace the copied binary right before it gets called, thus gaining Administrator privileges (if the original uninstaller was executed as Administrator). The vulnerability only affects Windows installers.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.99% probability · 62th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-330
- Affected
- vmware/installbuilder
- Source
- security@vmware.com
EPSS 1.0% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- https://blog.installbuilder.com/2021/10/installbuilder-2160-released.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
- https://blog.installbuilder.com/2021/10/installbuilder-2160-released.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.