Local SYSTEM code execution via unquoted service path
Published Jan 30, 2026 · Updated Jan 30, 2026
Unquoted service path handling in Popcorn Time 6.2.1.14 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The Windows Update service registers C:\Program Files (x86)\Popcorn Time\Updater.exe without quotation marks, allowing service startup to resolve attacker-controlled program.exe or popcorn.exe files in parent directories. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access that can place an executable in the system root or Program Files (x86), followed by application startup or reboot.
Summary
What happened
Unquoted service path handling in Popcorn Time 6.2.1.14 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The Windows Update service registers C:\Program Files (x86)\Popcorn Time\Updater.exe without quotation marks, allowing service startup to resolve attacker-controlled program.exe or popcorn.exe files in parent directories. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access that can place an executable in the system root or Program Files (x86), followed by application startup or reboot.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-37059
- Published
- Jan 30, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 30, 2026
- Vendor
- Popcorn Time Project
- Product
- Popcorn Time
- Classifications
- CWE-428, T1574.009
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 30, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 30, 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=6.2.1.14
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
- Popcorn Time 6.2 - 'Update service' Unquoted Service Pathproof 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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