CVE-2018-18435 EXPLOIT
7.8
HIGH · CVSS 3.0 · EPSS 1.4% (pctl 71)
Patch early
A public exploit exists.
Description
KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one.
Scoring
| CVSS | 7.8 (HIGH, v3.0) |
|---|---|
| Vector | CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| EPSS | 1.38% — more likely to be exploited than 71% of all CVEs |
| Weakness | CWE-732 |
| On CISA KEV | no |
| Public exploit | yes |
| Published | 2019-03-21 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
Affected (1)
| Vendor | Product |
|---|---|
| kioware | kioware server |
Public exploits
| Source | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| exploit-db | KioWare Server Version 4.9.6 - Weak Folder Permissions Privilege Escalation | 2019-01-07 |
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/151031/KioWare-Server-4.9.6-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://github.com/active-labs/Advisories/blob/master/2019/ACTIVE-2019-002.md
- https://m.kioware.com/news/kioware-press-releases/kioware_server_security_patch_update
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46093/
- https://www.kioware.com/patch.aspx
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/151031/KioWare-Server-4.9.6-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://github.com/active-labs/Advisories/blob/master/2019/ACTIVE-2019-002.md
- https://m.kioware.com/news/kioware-press-releases/kioware_server_security_patch_update
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46093/
- https://www.kioware.com/patch.aspx
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