CVE-2026-7373

Local SYSTEM code execution via writable OpenSSL configuration

Published May 15, 2026 · Updated May 15, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Rapid7 Metasploit Pro 5.0.0 for Windows allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM at service startup. The metasploitPostgreSQL service launches postgres.exe as SYSTEM, which loads openssl.cnf from a static path writable by a pre-existing vagrant account. The attacker must already have host access through that administrator-created account; Metasploit does not create it, and exploitation grants full host control.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.17%
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 Rapid7 Metasploit Pro 5.0.0 for Windows allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM at service startup. The metasploitPostgreSQL service launches postgres.exe as SYSTEM, which loads openssl.cnf from a static path writable by a pre-existing vagrant account. The attacker must already have host access through that administrator-created account; Metasploit does not create it, and exploitation grants full host control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-7373
Published
May 15, 2026
Updated
May 15, 2026
Vendor
Rapid7
Product
Metasploit Pro
Classifications
CWE-829, CWE-427, CWE-284, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 15, 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=5.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Rapid7 · Metasploit Proversion=5.0.0

Published CVSS scores

8.5Rapid7, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-829Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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