---
id: "CVE-2021-23874"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2021-23874"]
title: "McAfee McAfee Total Protection (MTP): McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.2
epss: 0.01026
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "McAfee McAfee Total Protection (MTP)", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "mcafee-total-protection", "vendor", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["no-mcafee-total-protection-installed"]
published_at: "2021-02-10T11:15:12+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-23874", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-23874", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23874", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# McAfee McAfee Total Protection (MTP): McAfee Total Protection (MTP) Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

McAfee Total Protection (MTP) has an improper privilege management flaw that lets a local user gain elevated privileges and run code. The flaw also bypasses MTP's self-defense, so the security product cannot stop it.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:McAfee McAfee Total Protection (MTP) affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the McAfee update for Total Protection per vendor instructions, as CISA requires.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-23874
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-23874
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23874

## From the sources

McAfee Total Protection (MTP) contains an improper privilege management vulnerability that allows a local user to gain elevated privileges and execute code, bypassing MTP self-defense.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_