CVE-2025-15561Public exploit

Local SYSTEM escalation via writable update directory

Published Feb 19, 2026 · Updated Feb 19, 2026

Local privilege escalation in NesterSoft WorkTime 11.8.8 and earlier allows local users to execute code as NT Authority\SYSTEM. The monitoring daemon's update logic executes a versioned WTWatch.exe from C:\ProgramData\wta\ClientExe, even though Everyone can write to that directory. A local low-privileged user must place a suitably versioned executable at that path; daemon execution then grants full SYSTEM control.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.10%
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 NesterSoft WorkTime 11.8.8 and earlier allows local users to execute code as NT Authority\SYSTEM. The monitoring daemon's update logic executes a versioned WTWatch.exe from C:\ProgramData\wta\ClientExe, even though Everyone can write to that directory. A local low-privileged user must place a suitably versioned executable at that path; daemon execution then grants full SYSTEM control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-15561
Published
Feb 19, 2026
Updated
Feb 19, 2026
Vendor
NesterSoft Inc.
Product
WorkTime
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=<= 11.8.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NesterSoft Inc. · WorkTimeversion=<= 11.8.8

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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