# CVE-2021-36958: Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges via the Windows Print Spooler service, requiring immediate patching.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **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:** 12 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 10 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-37q4-472r-ppmr

## What is CVE-2021-36958?

CVE-2021-36958 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, published on 12 Aug 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

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.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-36958?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Windows.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-36958?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-36958 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-36958 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36958 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows

- [CVE-2015-4716](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4716/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-3139](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3139/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2010-3143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3143/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2008-4037](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4037/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2015-4796](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4796/): Other in n/a (critical 9.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-36958 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-36958 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, published on 12 Aug 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-2021-36958 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows. 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-2021-36958/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36958/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36958
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36958
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36958

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36958/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.