CVE-2019-25285: Alps Pointing-device Privilege Escalation

CVE-2019-25285 Overview

CVE-2019-25285 is an unquoted service path vulnerability affecting the Alps Pointing-device Controller version 8.1202.1711.04. The vulnerability exists in the ApHidMonitorService component, which allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system-level privileges. By exploiting improper path handling in the Windows service configuration, attackers can place a malicious executable in a location that will be executed with high privileges when the service restarts or the system reboots.

Critical Impact

Local privilege escalation allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM-level access on affected Windows systems through malicious executable placement in the unquoted service path.

Affected Products

• Alps Pointing-device Controller 8.1202.1711.04
• ApHidMonitorService component
• Windows systems with Alps touchpad/pointing device drivers installed

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-05 - CVE CVE-2019-25285 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25285

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element), a common security flaw in Windows service configurations. When a Windows service executable path contains spaces and is not enclosed in quotation marks, the Windows Service Control Manager (SCM) attempts to interpret the path in an ambiguous manner.

The ApHidMonitorService in Alps Pointing-device Controller is configured with an unquoted service path that contains spaces. When the service attempts to start, Windows parses the path by systematically checking each space-delimited segment as a potential executable location. This parsing behavior creates opportunities for attackers with local access to place malicious executables in predictable locations along the path.

This is a local attack vector requiring the attacker to have prior access to the target system with sufficient write permissions to place an executable in one of the path locations that Windows will attempt to execute before reaching the legitimate service binary.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper configuration of the Windows service executable path. When the service was registered with the Windows SCM, the path to the executable was not enclosed in double quotation marks. For paths containing spaces (such as those in C:\Program Files\), the lack of quotes causes Windows to interpret the path ambiguously. The SCM will sequentially attempt to execute binaries at each space boundary before eventually reaching the intended executable, creating predictable hijack points for attackers.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the target system with write permissions to directories in the service path hierarchy. An attacker would identify the unquoted service path, then place a malicious executable named to match a path segment (such as Program.exe in C:\) or another appropriately named binary further along the path. When the ApHidMonitorService is restarted—either manually, through system reboot, or via service recovery mechanisms—the malicious executable will be launched with SYSTEM privileges before the legitimate service binary is found.

The exploitation technique is well-documented in Exploit-DB #47637, which provides details on this specific vulnerability. Additional technical information is available in the VulnCheck Advisory on ALPS Service.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25285

Indicators of Compromise

• Presence of unexpected executables in C:\ directory (e.g., Program.exe)
• Unexpected executables in path segments leading to the Alps driver installation directory
• Anomalous process creation events from service-related paths
• Service startup failures or unusual behavior of ApHidMonitorService

Detection Strategies

• Query Windows services for unquoted paths using PowerShell or WMI to identify the vulnerable configuration
• Monitor file creation events in root and Program Files directories for suspicious executables
• Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized binaries from executing in system paths
• Use SentinelOne's behavioral AI to detect privilege escalation attempts via service path hijacking

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Windows Security Event logging for service control manager events (Event ID 7045)
• Monitor process creation events for SYSTEM-level processes spawned from unusual locations
• Implement file integrity monitoring on common hijack locations (C:\, C:\Program Files\)
• Configure alerts for new service installations or modifications to existing service configurations

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25285

Immediate Actions Required

• Audit all installed services for unquoted paths using the command: wmic service get name,displayname,pathname,startmode | findstr /i "auto" | findstr /i /v "c:\windows\\" | findstr /i /v """
• Verify write permissions on directories in the service path hierarchy and restrict as necessary
• Update Alps Pointing-device Controller drivers to the latest available version from the manufacturer
• Implement application control policies to prevent unauthorized executable execution

Patch Information

Check the ALPS Security Information page for the latest driver updates and security patches. Organizations should update to the most recent version of the Alps Pointing-device Controller that addresses this unquoted service path issue. Contact your device manufacturer or OEM for updated drivers if Alps drivers were bundled with your system.

Workarounds

• Manually correct the service path by adding quotation marks around the ImagePath registry value
• Restrict write permissions on directories in the service path to prevent malicious file placement
• Disable the ApHidMonitorService if the touchpad monitoring functionality is not required
• Implement endpoint protection with behavioral detection capabilities to identify exploitation attempts

# Registry fix to quote the service path (run as Administrator)
# First, identify the current unquoted path:
reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ApHidMonitorService" /v ImagePath

# Then manually update the ImagePath value in Registry Editor (regedit)
# to enclose the path in quotation marks, e.g.:
# "C:\Program Files\Alps\GlidePoint\ApHidMonitorService.exe"