CVE-2016-20057Public exploit

LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path

Published Apr 4, 2026 · Updated Apr 4, 2026

Privilege escalation in NETGATE Registry Cleaner 16.0.205 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem via NGRegClnSrv. NGRegClnSrv registers C:\Program Files\NETGATE\Registry Cleaner\RegistryCleanerSrv.exe without surrounding quotes, causing Windows to search higher-level paths. Exploitation requires write access to a searched path and a service restart or system reboot, after which the attacker's executable runs with LocalSystem privileges.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in NETGATE Registry Cleaner 16.0.205 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem via NGRegClnSrv. NGRegClnSrv registers C:\Program Files\NETGATE\Registry Cleaner\RegistryCleanerSrv.exe without surrounding quotes, causing Windows to search higher-level paths. Exploitation requires write access to a searched path and a service restart or system reboot, after which the attacker's executable runs with LocalSystem privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2016-20057
Published
Apr 4, 2026
Updated
Apr 4, 2026
Vendor
NETGATE Technologies s.r.o.
Product
NETGATE Registry Cleaner
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 4, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=16.0.205

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NETGATE Technologies s.r.o. · NETGATE Registry Cleanerversion=16.0.205

Published CVSS scores

8.5VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
T1574.009Path Interception by Unquoted Path

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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