# CVE-2021-34481: Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE-2021-34481 is fixed in 40 products on 1 platform, first by KB5005043, released August 10, 2021. It is not reported as exploited, but the vendor rates exploitation more likely. Patch Radar priority: Urgent.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-34481
- Priority: Urgent
- CVSS: 8.8 (Important)
- EPSS: 0.4772
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: yes
- Vendor exploitability assessment: Exploitation More Likely
- Published: Jul 15, 2021
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2021-34481

## Description

<p>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.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE</strong> August 10, 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. This security update changes the Point and Print default behavior; please see <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/help/5005652">KB5005652</a>.</p>

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems | 14393.4583 | [KB5005043](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005043.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems | 14393.4583 | [KB5005043](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005043.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems | 17763.2114 | [KB5005030](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005030.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems | 17763.2114 | [KB5005030](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005030.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems | 17763.2114 | [KB5005030](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005030.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1909 for 32-bit Systems | 18363.1734 | [KB5005031](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005031.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1909 for ARM64-based Systems | 18363.1734 | [KB5005031](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005031.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based Systems | 18363.1734 | [KB5005031](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005031.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 2004 for 32-bit Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 2004 for ARM64-based Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 20H2 for 32-bit Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 20H2 for ARM64-based Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64-based Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 21H1 for 32-bit Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 21H1 for ARM64-based Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64-based Systems |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems | 10240.19022 | [KB5005040](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005040.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 10 for x64-based Systems | 10240.19022 | [KB5005040](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005040.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 |  | [KB5005089](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005089.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 |  | [KB5005088](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005088.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 |  | [KB5005089](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005089.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 |  | [KB5005088](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005088.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems |  | [KB5005076](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005076.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems |  | [KB5005106](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005106.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems |  | [KB5005076](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005076.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems |  | [KB5005106](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005106.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows RT 8.1 |  | [KB5005076](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005076.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 |  | [KB5005089](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005089.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 |  | [KB5005088](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005088.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005089](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005089.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005088](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005088.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 |  | [KB5005095](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005095.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 |  | [KB5005090](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005090.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005095](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005095.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005090](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005090.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 |  | [KB5005095](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005095.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 |  | [KB5005090](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005090.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005095](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005095.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005090](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005090.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 |  | [KB5005099](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005099.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 |  | [KB5005094](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005094.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005099](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005099.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005094](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005094.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 |  | [KB5005076](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005076.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 |  | [KB5005106](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005106.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005076](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005076.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005106](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005106.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | 14393.4583 | [KB5005043](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005043.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) | 14393.4583 | [KB5005043](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005043.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | 17763.2114 | [KB5005030](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005030.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | 17763.2114 | [KB5005030](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005030.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 2004 (Server Core installation) |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Microsoft | Windows Server, version 20H2 (Server Core Installation) |  | [KB5005033](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb5005033.md) | Aug 10, 2021 |

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Data as of 2026-11-09T13:31:49Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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