LocalSystem code execution via unquoted updater path
Published Nov 18, 2022 · Updated Apr 29, 2025
Unquoted service path in IObit IOTransfer 4.0 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem through the updater service. The IOTUpdaterSvc ImagePath registers C:\Program Files (x86)\IOTransfer\Updater\IOTUpdater.exe without quotes, causing Windows to consider space-delimited executable prefixes before the intended updater. Exploitation requires write access to a candidate prefix and a service start or system restart; successful abuse runs the planted code as LocalSystem.
Summary
What happened
Unquoted service path in IObit IOTransfer 4.0 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem through the updater service. The IOTUpdaterSvc ImagePath registers C:\Program Files (x86)\IOTransfer\Updater\IOTUpdater.exe without quotes, causing Windows to consider space-delimited executable prefixes before the intended updater. Exploitation requires write access to a candidate prefix and a service start or system restart; successful abuse runs the planted code as LocalSystem.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-37197
- Published
- Nov 18, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 29, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-428, T1574.009
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 18, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 29, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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
- IOTransfer V4 unquoted service path demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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