CVE-2020-36957Public exploit

LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path

Published Jan 26, 2026 · Updated Jan 26, 2026

Unquoted service path in PDF Complete 3.5.310.2002 allows local users to execute code with LocalSystem privileges. PDF Complete registers the auto-start pdfcDispatcher service with an unquoted C:\Program Files (x86)\PDF Complete\pdfsvc.exe binary path, so Windows can resolve an attacker-placed executable from an earlier path segment. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and write permission to a searched parent directory; service start or system reboot then runs the substituted code as LocalSystem.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unquoted service path in PDF Complete 3.5.310.2002 allows local users to execute code with LocalSystem privileges. PDF Complete registers the auto-start pdfcDispatcher service with an unquoted C:\Program Files (x86)\PDF Complete\pdfsvc.exe binary path, so Windows can resolve an attacker-placed executable from an earlier path segment. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and write permission to a searched parent directory; service start or system reboot then runs the substituted code as LocalSystem.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36957
Published
Jan 26, 2026
Updated
Jan 26, 2026
Vendor
PDF Complete, Inc.
Product
PDF Complete
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 26, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 26, 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=0 <=3.5.310.2002

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PDF Complete, Inc. · PDF Completeversion=0 <=3.5.310.2002

Published CVSS scores

7.8VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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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