# CVE-2021-36742: Trend Micro Multiple Products Improper Input Validation

> A local attacker with low-privileged code execution can escalate privileges on Trend Micro endpoint security products due to improper input validation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h3hj-ff5j-498h

## What is CVE-2021-36742?

CVE-2021-36742 is a high-severity vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex One, published on 29 Jul 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A improper input validation vulnerability in Trend Micro Apex One, Apex One as a Service, OfficeScan XG and Worry-Free Business Security 10.0 SP1 allows a local attacker to escalate privileges on affected installations. Please note: an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-36742?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Trendmicro Apex One, Trendmicro Officescan, Trendmicro Officescan Business Security, Trendmicro Worry-Free Business Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-36742?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-36742 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 17 Nov 2021.

## Is CVE-2021-36742 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-36742 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

## Other vulnerabilities in Trendmicro Apex One

- [CVE-2020-8599](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8599/): Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-54948](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-54948/): Trend Micro Apex One OS Command Injection (critical 9.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-36741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36741/): Trend Micro Multiple Products Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-8467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8467/): Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-8468](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8468/): Trend Micro Multiple Products Content Validation Escape (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-36742 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-36742 is a high-severity vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex One, published on 29 Jul 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-36742 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: Trendmicro Apex One. 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-2021-36742/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36742/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36742
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36742
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36742

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36742/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.