CVE-2026-6788

SYSTEM code execution via PluginLauncher search-path hijacking

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Uncontrolled search path handling in WatchGuard Agent before 1.25.03.0000 allows local users to execute code with SYSTEM privileges. The PluginLauncher component searches for and loads a file from an attacker-controllable location instead of constraining resolution to a trusted path. A low-privileged Windows user can place the malicious file, but SYSTEM execution depends on chaining this flaw with the companion agent-service weakness.

CVSS severity8.5
High
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

Uncontrolled search path handling in WatchGuard Agent before 1.25.03.0000 allows local users to execute code with SYSTEM privileges. The PluginLauncher component searches for and loads a file from an attacker-controllable location instead of constraining resolution to a trusted path. A low-privileged Windows user can place the malicious file, but SYSTEM execution depends on chaining this flaw with the companion agent-service weakness.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-6788
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
WatchGuard Technologies
Product
WatchGuard Agent
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 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=0 <1.25.03.0000

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

WatchGuard Technologies · WatchGuard Agentversion=0 <1.25.03.0000

Published CVSS scores

8.5WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/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

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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

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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