CVE-2021-47896Public exploit

LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path

Published Jan 23, 2026 · Updated Jan 23, 2026

Unquoted service path in PDF Complete Corporate Edition 4.1.45 allows local users to execute code with LocalSystem privileges. The pdfcDispatcher service registers C:\Program Files (x86)\PDF Complete\pdfsvc.exe without enclosing the executable path in quotation marks. A low-privileged Windows user places a malicious executable in a writable higher-level directory; service startup then launches it as LocalSystem.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.13%
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 Corporate Edition 4.1.45 allows local users to execute code with LocalSystem privileges. The pdfcDispatcher service registers C:\Program Files (x86)\PDF Complete\pdfsvc.exe without enclosing the executable path in quotation marks. A low-privileged Windows user places a malicious executable in a writable higher-level directory; service startup then launches it as LocalSystem.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-47896
Published
Jan 23, 2026
Updated
Jan 23, 2026
Vendor
PDF Complete, Inc.
Product
PDF Complete Corporate Edition
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 23, 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=4.1.45

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PDF Complete, Inc. · PDF Complete Corporate Editionversion=4.1.45

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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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
T1574.009Hijack 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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