CVE-2026-7280: AVACAST Unquoted Service Path Vulnerability

CVE-2026-7280 Overview

AVACAST, developed by eMPIA Technology, contains an Unquoted Service Path vulnerability (CWE-428) that allows privileged local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability exists due to improper handling of the service executable path, enabling attackers to place a malicious executable in a specific directory that gets executed when the AVACAST service starts.

Critical Impact
Local privilege escalation to SYSTEM level through malicious executable placement, enabling complete system compromise when the vulnerable service starts.

Affected Products

AVACAST by eMPIA Technology (specific versions not disclosed)

Discovery Timeline

2026-04-28 - CVE CVE-2026-7280 published to NVD
2026-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-7280

Vulnerability Analysis

The Unquoted Service Path vulnerability in AVACAST occurs when the Windows service executable path contains spaces but is not enclosed in quotation marks. When Windows encounters an unquoted path with spaces, it attempts to locate the executable by parsing the path at each space character, creating opportunities for attackers to hijack the execution flow.

For example, if the service path is C:\Program Files\eMPIA\AVACAST\service.exe, Windows will attempt to execute in the following order:

C:\Program.exe
C:\Program Files\eMPIA\AVACAST\service.exe

An attacker with local administrative privileges can place a malicious executable named Program.exe in the C:\ directory, which will be executed with SYSTEM privileges when the AVACAST service starts or restarts.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to properly quote the service binary path during installation or configuration. When the Windows Service Control Manager (SCM) registers the AVACAST service, the ImagePath registry value under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AVACAST contains an unquoted path that includes spaces. This is a common developer oversight that creates a privilege escalation vector.

Attack Vector

This vulnerability requires local access to the target system and high privileges to place the malicious executable in the required directory location. The attack is opportunistic in nature—the malicious payload executes only when the AVACAST service is started or restarted, which may occur during system boot, manual service restart, or system maintenance operations.

The attacker must craft a malicious executable that matches the parsed path segment (e.g., Program.exe) and place it in the appropriate directory. Once executed, the malicious code runs with SYSTEM privileges, providing complete control over the affected system.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7280

Indicators of Compromise

Presence of unexpected executable files in root directories such as C:\Program.exe or similar locations matching path segment names
Unusual processes spawning from the AVACAST service with unexpected behavior or network connections
Modifications to the AVACAST service registry entries or service configuration
Unexpected service restarts or failures in the AVACAST service logs

Detection Strategies

Monitor for file creation events in root directories and common unquoted path exploitation locations using endpoint detection tools
Implement file integrity monitoring on directories commonly targeted by unquoted service path attacks
Use Windows Security Event logs to track service installations and modifications (Event IDs 7045, 4697)
Deploy SentinelOne's behavioral AI to detect anomalous process execution chains originating from service accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed auditing on service-related registry keys under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Configure real-time file monitoring for executable creation in system drive root directories
Implement alerting for any new processes spawning with SYSTEM privileges from unexpected parent processes
Review Windows Event Logs regularly for service-related anomalies and unexpected service restarts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7280

Immediate Actions Required

Audit the AVACAST service configuration to verify the presence of the unquoted service path vulnerability
Restrict write permissions on directories that could be exploited for malicious executable placement
Monitor the affected systems for signs of exploitation while awaiting vendor patches
Consider temporarily disabling the AVACAST service if it is not critical to business operations

Patch Information

Consult the TW-CERT Security Advisory and TW-CERT Security Update for official patch information and remediation guidance from the vendor.

Workarounds

Manually correct the service path by adding quotation marks around the ImagePath value in the Windows Registry
Implement strict access controls on directories commonly targeted by unquoted path exploitation
Use application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executables from running in sensitive directories
Deploy endpoint protection solutions like SentinelOne that can detect and block privilege escalation attempts

bash

# Registry fix example - add quotes to service path
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AVACAST" /v ImagePath /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "\"C:\Program Files\eMPIA\AVACAST\service.exe\"" /f