LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path
Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Unquoted service path handling in Private Internet Access 3.3.0.100 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem during service startup. The reported locus is the Windows registration for PrivateInternetAccessService, which allegedly omits quotes around the full pia-service.exe path; however, the referenced Exploit-DB transcript displays that path in quotes. Exploitation requires a local user to place an executable in a searched parent path and have the LocalSystem service start or the system reboot.
Summary
What happened
Unquoted service path handling in Private Internet Access 3.3.0.100 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem during service startup. The reported locus is the Windows registration for PrivateInternetAccessService, which allegedly omits quotes around the full pia-service.exe path; however, the referenced Exploit-DB transcript displays that path in quotes. Exploitation requires a local user to place an executable in a searched parent path and have the LocalSystem service start or the system reboot.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-50924
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Private Internet Access
- Product
- Private Internet Access
- Classifications
- CWE-428, T1574.009
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 13, 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=3.3.0.100
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Private Internet Access 3.3 - 'pia-service' Unquoted Service Pathproof of concept · unverified
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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