LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path
Published Jun 19, 2026 · Updated Jun 19, 2026
Unquoted service path handling in RealTimes Desktop Service 18.1.4 allows local users to execute code with LocalSystem privileges. The Windows service registers rpdsvc.exe under an unquoted executable path containing spaces, so path resolution can select an attacker-planted executable from a parent directory. A low-privileged user needs write access to a searched parent path; the planted program runs as LocalSystem when the service starts or Windows reboots.
Summary
What happened
Unquoted service path handling in RealTimes Desktop Service 18.1.4 allows local users to execute code with LocalSystem privileges. The Windows service registers rpdsvc.exe under an unquoted executable path containing spaces, so path resolution can select an attacker-planted executable from a parent directory. A low-privileged user needs write access to a searched parent path; the planted program runs as LocalSystem when the service starts or Windows reboots.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-37251
- Published
- Jun 19, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 19, 2026
- Vendor
- RealNetworks
- Product
- RealTimes Desktop Service
- Classifications
- CWE-428, T1574.009
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 19, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=18.1.4
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
- RealTimes Desktop Service 18.1.4 rpdsvc.exe 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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