CVE-2023-53984: Clevo HotKey Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2023-53984 Overview

CVE-2023-53984 is an unquoted service path vulnerability (CWE-428) affecting Clevo HotKey Clipboard version 2.1.0.6. The HKClipSvc service contains an improperly quoted executable path, which allows local non-privileged users to potentially execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. This vulnerability can be exploited by placing a malicious executable in a location that Windows will execute before the legitimate service binary.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can leverage this unquoted service path to achieve privilege escalation from standard user to SYSTEM-level access, potentially compromising the entire host system.

Affected Products

• Clevo HotKey Clipboard 2.1.0.6
• HKClipSvc Windows Service
• Systems with Clevo laptop utilities installed

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-13 - CVE CVE-2023-53984 published to NVD
• 2026-01-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-53984

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists within the HKClipSvc service, which is installed as part of the Clevo HotKey Clipboard utility commonly found on Clevo laptops and related OEM systems. When the service executable path contains spaces and is not enclosed in quotation marks, Windows service control manager (SCM) interprets the path ambiguously.

For instance, if the service is registered with an unquoted path like C:\Program Files\Clevo\HotKey Clipboard\HKClipSvc.exe, Windows will attempt to execute programs in the following order:

1. C:\Program.exe
2. C:\Program Files\Clevo\HotKey.exe
3. C:\Program Files\Clevo\HotKey Clipboard\HKClipSvc.exe

An attacker with write access to any of the parent directories (such as C:\ in certain misconfigurations, or a writable C:\Program Files\Clevo\ directory) can plant a malicious executable that will be executed with SYSTEM privileges when the service starts.

Root Cause

The root cause is an insecure service registration in the Windows registry where the ImagePath value for the HKClipSvc service lacks proper quotation marks around the executable path. This is a classic Windows privilege escalation vector that has been documented extensively as CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element).

When service paths contain spaces and are not quoted, the Windows Service Control Manager performs a series of path resolution attempts, creating an opportunity for path interception attacks. Proper service registration should always wrap paths containing spaces in double quotes.

Attack Vector

This is a local attack vector requiring the attacker to have authenticated access to the target system. The attacker must be able to:

1. Write an executable file to a location in the unquoted path hierarchy
2. Have the target service restart (either through system reboot, service crash, or if the attacker has permissions to restart services)

Once the malicious executable is placed and the service restarts, the attacker's code executes with SYSTEM privileges. This attack requires low complexity and no user interaction beyond the initial local access. The exploitation technique is well-documented in the Exploit-DB #51206 entry.

The unquoted service path vulnerability allows an attacker to place a malicious executable (such as HotKey.exe) in the C:\Program Files\Clevo\ directory. When the HKClipSvc service starts, Windows will attempt to execute this file before finding the legitimate service binary. The malicious executable runs with SYSTEM privileges, providing complete control over the affected system. Additional technical details are available in the VulnCheck Advisory on Hotkey.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-53984

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected executable files in C:\Program Files\Clevo\ directory with names like HotKey.exe
• Suspicious process execution chains where SYSTEM-level processes spawn from atypical locations
• New files named Program.exe in the root of system drives
• Unusual service-related events in Windows Event Logs (Event ID 7000, 7009, 7045)

Detection Strategies

• Use PowerShell or tools like wmic to enumerate all unquoted service paths: wmic service get name,displayname,pathname,startmode | findstr /i "auto" | findstr /i /v "c:\windows\\" | findstr /i /v "\""
• Monitor for file creation events in directories that are part of unquoted service paths
• Implement endpoint detection rules for new executable files appearing in common exploit locations
• SentinelOne's behavioral AI can detect anomalous process behavior when malicious binaries attempt privilege escalation via service hijacking

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable file integrity monitoring on directories commonly targeted by unquoted path attacks
• Configure Windows Event Log monitoring for service control manager events (Event IDs 7000, 7009, 7045)
• Deploy SentinelOne agents with real-time process monitoring to detect unauthorized SYSTEM-level execution
• Regularly audit installed services using vulnerability scanning tools to identify unquoted paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-53984

Immediate Actions Required

• Audit all installed services for unquoted path vulnerabilities using tools like PowerShell or dedicated vulnerability scanners
• Correct the HKClipSvc service registry entry to include quotes around the ImagePath value
• Remove any suspicious executable files from directories in the unquoted path hierarchy
• Restrict write permissions on directories like C:\Program Files\Clevo\ to administrators only
• Consider disabling or removing the HKClipSvc service if not required for system operation

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been identified in the available CVE data. The Clevo Official Site Archive can be referenced for historical product information. Users should contact Clevo support directly to inquire about updated software versions that address this vulnerability. In the absence of an official patch, the registry-based workaround below should be applied.

Workarounds

• Manually fix the unquoted service path by adding quotes to the registry value (see configuration example below)
• Restrict write access to all directories in the service path hierarchy
• Use application whitelisting solutions like Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) to prevent unauthorized executables
• Deploy SentinelOne endpoint protection to detect and block privilege escalation attempts
• Consider uninstalling Clevo HotKey Clipboard if the functionality is not essential

# Registry fix to quote the HKClipSvc service path
# Run PowerShell as Administrator

# First, backup the current registry value
$servicePath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HKClipSvc"
$currentPath = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $servicePath -Name ImagePath).ImagePath
Write-Host "Current ImagePath: $currentPath"

# Apply the quoted path fix
$quotedPath = '"C:\Program Files\Clevo\HotKey Clipboard\HKClipSvc.exe"'
Set-ItemProperty -Path $servicePath -Name ImagePath -Value $quotedPath
Write-Host "Updated ImagePath to: $quotedPath"

# Verify the change
$newPath = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $servicePath -Name ImagePath).ImagePath
Write-Host "Verified new ImagePath: $newPath"