CVE-2026-14208

Local Privilege Escalation via Insecure DLL Permissions in Remote Utilities Host <=7.7.3.0

Published Aug 21, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 7.3 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Remote Utilities Host <=7.7.3.0 sets insecure ACLs on all DLL files in the installation directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Remote Utilities - Host\), granting FULL CONTROL (F) to the built-in Everyone group (BUILTIN\Everyone, S-1-1-0). A Windows service running as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM loads DLLs from this directory. The DLLs are file-locked at runtime, but a race window exists when the service is stopped (e.g. during a software update or following a crash), during which a local unprivileged attacker can replace a DLL with a malicious payload. Upon service restart, the payload executes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The DLL confirmed as actively loaded during testing is libasset32.dll. Additional DLLs in the same directory (eventmsg.dll, libcodec32.dll, vp8encoder.dll, vp8decoder.dll, webmvorbisdecoder.dll, webmvorbisencoder.dll, webmmux.dll) share identical insecure permissions.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

* Remove Everyone:(F) ACL from all DLL files under the installation directory. Restrict to: SYSTEM (Full Control), Administrators (Full Control), Users/Authenticated Users (Read & Execute). Enforce recursively in installer, update routine, and repair mechanism. * Implement cryptographic signature verification of all loaded DLLs at service startup. * Use atomic DLL replacement during updates (write to temp path, verify signature, rename).


Vendor Workaround

Manually correct DLL ACLs using icacls: icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Remote Utilities - Host\*.dll" /remove "Everyone" /grant "BUILTIN\Users:(RX)" /grant "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)" /grant "BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)"

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Remote Utilities
Remote Utilities remote Utilities Host
Vendors & Products Remote Utilities
Remote Utilities remote Utilities Host
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Remote Utilities Host <=7.7.3.0 sets insecure ACLs on all DLL files in the installation directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Remote Utilities - Host\), granting FULL CONTROL (F) to the built-in Everyone group (BUILTIN\Everyone, S-1-1-0). A Windows service running as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM loads DLLs from this directory. The DLLs are file-locked at runtime, but a race window exists when the service is stopped (e.g. during a software update or following a crash), during which a local unprivileged attacker can replace a DLL with a malicious payload. Upon service restart, the payload executes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The DLL confirmed as actively loaded during testing is libasset32.dll. Additional DLLs in the same directory (eventmsg.dll, libcodec32.dll, vp8encoder.dll, vp8decoder.dll, webmvorbisdecoder.dll, webmvorbisencoder.dll, webmmux.dll) share identical insecure permissions.
Title Local Privilege Escalation via Insecure DLL Permissions in Remote Utilities Host <=7.7.3.0
Weaknesses CWE-732
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
NCSC.ch
Published
Updated
Aug 21, 2026, 11:54 AM
Reserved
Jun 30, 2026, 9:38 AM
Status
Deferred
Published
Aug 21, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 16, 2026, 3:10 PM