CVE-2019-25304: SecurOS Enterprise Privilege Escalation

CVE-2019-25304 Overview

SecurOS Enterprise 10.2 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in the SecurosCtrlService that allows local users to potentially execute code with elevated privileges. Attackers can exploit the unquoted path in C:\Program Files (x86)\ISS\SecurOS\ to insert malicious code that would execute with system-level permissions during service startup.

Critical Impact

Local privilege escalation through unquoted service path allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM-level privileges when the vulnerable service starts.

Affected Products

• SecurOS Enterprise 10.2
• SecurosCtrlService component
• ISS (Intelligent Security Systems) SecurOS Enterprise deployments

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-06 - CVE CVE-2019-25304 published to NVD
• 2026-02-06 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25304

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability (CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element) exists in the SecurosCtrlService component of SecurOS Enterprise 10.2. The service executable path contains spaces but is not properly enclosed in quotation marks in the Windows registry. When Windows attempts to start the service, it interprets the unquoted path ambiguously, creating an opportunity for malicious executable insertion.

The vulnerable service path C:\Program Files (x86)\ISS\SecurOS\ allows an attacker to place a malicious executable at intermediate path locations such as C:\Program.exe or C:\Program Files.exe. When the service starts (typically at system boot or through manual restart), Windows will attempt to execute these inserted binaries before reaching the legitimate service executable.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper configuration of the Windows service path in the system registry. The service executable path contains spaces (in "Program Files (x86)") but lacks the required quotation marks around the full path string. This is a common Windows service misconfiguration that allows path interpretation exploitation.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the system with write permissions to one of the intermediate directories in the path hierarchy. An attacker with low privileges can:

1. Identify the unquoted service path using tools like wmic service get name,pathname or registry inspection
2. Place a malicious executable at a location Windows will evaluate before the legitimate binary
3. Wait for or trigger a service restart to execute the malicious payload with SYSTEM privileges

The vulnerability manifests when Windows parses the unquoted path and attempts to locate the executable. Due to the space in "Program Files (x86)", Windows evaluates multiple potential executable locations in order. For technical details regarding exploitation methodology, see the Exploit-DB #47556 advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25304

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected executables named Program.exe, Program Files.exe, or similar in root or intermediate directories
• Suspicious binaries in C:\ or C:\Program Files directories that don't belong to legitimate software
• Unusual process execution chains where SYSTEM-level processes spawn from unexpected locations
• Registry modifications to the SecurosCtrlService path configuration

Detection Strategies

• Query Windows services for unquoted paths using wmic service get name,pathname,startmode | findstr /i "auto" | findstr /v """ to identify vulnerable configurations
• Monitor file creation events in C:\, C:\Program Files\, and C:\Program Files (x86)\ for executable files
• Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executables from running with elevated privileges
• Use endpoint detection tools to alert on process execution from non-standard locations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Windows Security Event logging for service start/stop events (Event IDs 7035, 7036, 7045)
• Monitor for new file creation in directories that would be evaluated during unquoted path resolution
• Configure alerts for SYSTEM-level process execution from unexpected parent processes
• Regularly audit service configurations for unquoted paths across the enterprise

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25304

Immediate Actions Required

• Audit the SecurosCtrlService registry entry and add quotation marks around the executable path
• Review all Windows services for unquoted path vulnerabilities using automated scanning tools
• Restrict write permissions to directories in the service path hierarchy
• Monitor for suspicious executables in intermediate path locations and remove any unauthorized files

Patch Information

Contact ISS (Intelligent Security Systems) for updated versions of SecurOS Enterprise that address this vulnerability. Review the VulnCheck Advisory for Securos for additional remediation guidance. For product information, see the ISS IVS Secure OS Enterprise product page.

Workarounds

• Manually correct the service path by enclosing it in quotation marks in the Windows registry at HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurosCtrlService
• Implement strict file system permissions to prevent write access to C:\ and C:\Program Files directories for non-administrative users
• Deploy application control policies to block execution of unauthorized binaries from sensitive directories
• Use SentinelOne endpoint protection to detect and prevent privilege escalation attempts through unquoted service path exploitation

# Configuration example
# Manually fix the unquoted service path in Windows registry
# Run PowerShell as Administrator:

# Check current service path configuration
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurosCtrlService" -Name ImagePath

# Correct the path by adding quotation marks (adjust path as needed)
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurosCtrlService" -Name ImagePath -Value '"C:\Program Files (x86)\ISS\SecurOS\SecurosCtrlService.exe"'

# Verify the change
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurosCtrlService" -Name ImagePath