CVE-2026-1878

SYSTEM escalation via installer payload substitution

Published Mar 12, 2026 · Updated Mar 12, 2026

Privilege escalation in ASUS ROG peripheral drivers allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM during driver installation. Improper access control leaves the installation directory writable, allowing substitution of the downloaded installer with an unexpected payload during a race window. Exploitation requires low local privileges, passive interaction with driver installation, and winning the timing race; successful execution gains SYSTEM authority.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
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

Privilege escalation in ASUS ROG peripheral drivers allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM during driver installation. Improper access control leaves the installation directory writable, allowing substitution of the downloaded installer with an unexpected payload during a race window. Exploitation requires low local privileges, passive interaction with driver installation, and winning the timing race; successful execution gains SYSTEM authority.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-1878
Published
Mar 12, 2026
Updated
Mar 12, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-494, T1574.005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 12, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.4ASUSCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/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.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-494Download of Code Without Integrity Check
T1574.005Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions Weakness

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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