# CVE-2021-20722: Privilege escalation in The installers of ScanSnap Manager and the Software Download Installer

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code and gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the ScanSnap Manager installer due to an untrusted search path.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 May 2021
- **Updated:** 7 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-39vj-pmcw-jg9x

## What is CVE-2021-20722?

CVE-2021-20722 is a high-severity vulnerability in FUJITSU LIMITED and PFU LIMITED The installers of ScanSnap Manager and the Software Download Installer, published on 24 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installers of ScanSnap Manager prior to versions V7.0L20 and the Software Download Installer prior to WinSSInst2JP.exe and WinSSInst2iX1500JP.exe allows an attacker to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-20722?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fujitsu Scansnap Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-20722?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-20722 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-20722 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20722 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-20722 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-20722 is a high-severity vulnerability in FUJITSU LIMITED and PFU LIMITED The installers of ScanSnap Manager and the Software Download Installer, published on 24 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20722 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: FUJITSU LIMITED and PFU LIMITED The installers of ScanSnap Manager and the Software Download Installer. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20722/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20722/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-20722
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20722
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-20722

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20722/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.