CVE-2026-5789

Elevated code execution via unquoted service path

Published Apr 21, 2026 · Updated Apr 21, 2026

Unquoted service path handling in CivetWeb 1.16 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on Windows. The manage_service function in src/main.c passes an unquoted executable path from GetModuleFileName to CreateService when installing the standalone server. Exploitation requires local server access plus the ability to upload or delete files in an earlier-searched path, enabling execution under the service account.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unquoted service path handling in CivetWeb 1.16 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on Windows. The manage_service function in src/main.c passes an unquoted executable path from GetModuleFileName to CreateService when installing the standalone server. Exploitation requires local server access plus the ability to upload or delete files in an earlier-searched path, enabling execution under the service account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-5789
Published
Apr 21, 2026
Updated
Apr 21, 2026
Vendor
CivetWeb
Product
CivetWeb
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 21, 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=1.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

CivetWeb · CivetWebversion=1.16

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.5INCIBECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/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-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
T1574.009Path Interception by Unquoted Path

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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