CVE-2020-36987Public exploit

LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path

Published Jan 28, 2026 · Updated Jan 28, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Gear Box Computers Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem. The PACSvc service registers PACService.exe at an unquoted C:\Program Files (x86)\Program Access Controller path and starts automatically as LocalSystem. A user able to place an executable in a higher-priority path can trigger it during startup or reboot, gaining full control of the host.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Gear Box Computers Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem. The PACSvc service registers PACService.exe at an unquoted C:\Program Files (x86)\Program Access Controller path and starts automatically as LocalSystem. A user able to place an executable in a higher-priority path can trigger it during startup or reboot, gaining full control of the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36987
Published
Jan 28, 2026
Updated
Jan 28, 2026
Vendor
Gear Box Computers
Product
Program Access Controller
Classifications
CWE-428, CAPEC-471, CAPEC-38, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1.2.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Gear Box Computers · Program Access Controllerversion=1.2.0.0

Published CVSS scores

8.5VulnCheck CNACVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8VulnCheck CNACVSS: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.

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
CAPEC-471Search Order Hijacking
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
T1574.009Hijack Execution Flow: Path 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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