CVE-2022-50921 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting WOW21 5.0.1.9. This vulnerability allows local attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. Attackers can exploit the unquoted binary path to inject malicious executables that will be launched with LocalSystem permissions during service startup. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 8.5, indicating that it poses a significant risk to organizations.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and the ability to execute arbitrary code, which can lead to severe consequences, such as data breaches or system compromise. Given the nature of this vulnerability, local attackers can exploit it easily, which increases the urgency for defenders to address it.
As of now, there are no known public exploits or proof-of-concept code available for this vulnerability. However, organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate risks associated with its exploitation.
With this vulnerability being classified as high severity, it is critical for organizations to schedule remediation at the earliest opportunity to prevent potential exploitation.
This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-428, which pertains to unquoted service paths, a known issue that can lead to various security risks.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability in WOW21 5.0.1.9 is classified as an unquoted service path vulnerability. Official descriptions indicate that it allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. The vulnerability was published on January 13, 2026, and has a CVSS score of 8.5, emphasizing its high severity.
This vulnerability specifically affects the WOW21 product version 5.0.1.9, and the CWE classification for this issue is CWE-428.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the presence of an unquoted binary path in the service configuration. This misconfiguration allows attackers to place malicious executables in the path, which the service may execute with high privileges during its startup process.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning an attacker must have physical access or appropriate network access to the affected system. The attack complexity is considered low, as no special conditions are required to exploit the vulnerability. Privileges required for exploitation are low, indicating that an attacker does not need administrative rights to carry out the attack.
User interaction is not required, which simplifies the attack process. If successfully exploited, the vulnerability can lead to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2022-50921 is significant. Organizations using the vulnerable WOW21 5.0.1.9 software version face a potential attack surface that could be exploited by local attackers, leading to unauthorized access and control over the affected systems.
This matters to organizations as it can lead to severe data breaches, loss of sensitive information, and disruption of services. The blast radius potential is broad, as exploitation can lead to complete system takeover, affecting not just the vulnerable system but potentially other connected systems as well.
With a CVSS score of 8.5, organizations must assess their urgency in addressing this vulnerability based on their specific environments and the potential impact on their operations. Organizations should address in priority patch cycle as part of their risk management strategy.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected version of the WOW21 product is 5.0.1.9. Organizations using this version should take immediate action to patch this vulnerability. If version information is missing, organizations should assume that all versions prior to the vendor patch are vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest patches provided by the vendor. It is essential to verify that the updated service configuration correctly quotes the executable paths to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
In instances where a patch is unavailable, organizations should consider implementing workarounds such as modifying service configurations to ensure that executable paths are properly quoted.
Furthermore, configuration hardening should be performed to limit access to the service. Network controls can also be implemented to restrict local access to the system.
Monitoring should be augmented to detect any unauthorized changes or attempts to exploit the vulnerability.
Organizations should validate remediation through penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
To effectively detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unauthorized access or execution of unexpected binaries.
Behavioral anomalies related to service startup processes should also be tracked, along with signatures of known malicious executables that could be injected into the vulnerable service.
Organizations should also monitor system changes that could indicate a compromise, such as unexpected changes to service configurations or the execution of binaries with elevated privileges.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2022-50921 serves as a reminder of the importance of secure software configurations. The unquoted service path vulnerability illustrates how seemingly minor misconfigurations can lead to significant security risks.
Organizations should consider adopting secure coding practices and configuration management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify and mitigate risks before they are exploited.
Establishing a robust vulnerability management program is crucial in this regard.
Following a structured penetration testing methodology can also enhance an organization's security posture.
Incorporating threat modeling practices into the development lifecycle can help identify potential vulnerabilities earlier in the process.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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