Read the docs
TI-2021-06229 Aliases CVE-2021-23874GHSA-jx9f-q7vh-wf4p

McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerability

Priority CRITICAL 95Exploited in the wildCWE-269Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Privilege escalation
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.

Summary

Arbitrary Process Execution vulnerability in McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.30 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code bypassing MTP self-defense.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Active In CISA KEV since 2021-11-03CISA due date 2021-11-17
EPSS 0.01071 65th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed McAfee Total Protection (MTP) (McAfee,LLC): 16.0.30

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Active
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
McAfeeMcAfee Total Protection (MTP)before 16.0.3016.0.30Patch availableCNA
  • McAfee Total Protection (MTP) VendorMcAfee Affected before 16.0.30 Fixed in 16.0.30 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:total_protection:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 16.0.30VulnerableMcAfee
  • cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:total_protection:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 16.0.30 Vulnerable ·McAfee

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA McAfee Total Protection (MTP) (McAfee,LLC) Fixed in 16.0.30

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    McAfee,LLC McAfee Total Protection (MTP) 16.0.30

    3 records Highest priority Priority CRITICAL 1 CRITICAL, 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2021-06228 McAfee Total Protection (MTP) privilege escalation vulnerabilityPriority LOW 35
    • TI-2021-06230 McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Bypass Remote Procedure call vulnerabilityPriority LOW 34
    Show all 3 records →

Timeline

  1. 2021-11-03 Added to CISA KEV
  2. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-23874
  3. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jx9f-q7vh-wf4p

References

Other 1

  • TI-2020-05888 Improper privilege management in McAfee Total Protection CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2020-05933 Improper privilege management in McAfee Total Protection Trial CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2009-01282 The AV engine before DAT 5600 in McAfee VirusScan, Total Protection, Internet Security… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.6
  • TI-2022-21485 McAfee Total Protection prior to version 16.0.49 contains an uncontrolled search path… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2020-05903 Total Protection (MTP) - Unexpected behavior violation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2019-02667 Privilege escalation in ToPS for Mac CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
See all 25 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences