LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path
Published Feb 4, 2026 · Updated Feb 4, 2026
Local privilege escalation in Adaware Web Companion 4.8.2078.3950 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem during service startup. WCAssistantService registers its executable path without quotation marks, allowing Windows to select an attacker-controlled executable from an earlier path segment. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, permission to place that executable, and a service start or system reboot.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in Adaware Web Companion 4.8.2078.3950 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem during service startup. WCAssistantService registers its executable path without quotation marks, allowing Windows to select an attacker-controlled executable from an earlier path segment. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access, permission to place that executable, and a service start or system reboot.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2019-25287
- Published
- Feb 4, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 4, 2026
- Vendor
- Adaware
- Product
- Web Companion
- Classifications
- CWE-428, T1574.009
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 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.
- Affected versionversion=4.8.2078.3950
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- WCAssistantService unquoted service path proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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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