CVE-2023-53965Public exploit

LocalSystem code execution via unquoted service path

Published Dec 22, 2025 · Updated Dec 22, 2025

Local privilege escalation in SOUND4 Server Service 4.1.102 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem during service startup. The Windows service registers C:\Program Files\SOUND4\Server\SOUND4 Server.exe --service as an unquoted binary path, so Windows can resolve and run an attacker-placed executable from a parent path. A local user must be able to place that executable in the system root before service startup or reboot, after which it runs with LocalSystem privileges.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in SOUND4 Server Service 4.1.102 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem during service startup. The Windows service registers C:\Program Files\SOUND4\Server\SOUND4 Server.exe --service as an unquoted binary path, so Windows can resolve and run an attacker-placed executable from a parent path. A local user must be able to place that executable in the system root before service startup or reboot, after which it runs with LocalSystem privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53965
Published
Dec 22, 2025
Updated
Dec 22, 2025
Vendor
SOUND4 Ltd.
Product
SOUND4 Server Service
Classifications
CWE-428, CAPEC-38, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 22, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 22, 2025Record 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=4.1.102

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SOUND4 Ltd. · SOUND4 Server Serviceversion=4.1.102

Published CVSS scores

8.6VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.4VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
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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