CVE-2026-92252: WatchDog Anti-Virus Privilege Escalation

CVE-2026-92252 Overview

CVE-2026-92252 is an insecure permissions vulnerability in WatchDog Anti-Virus on Windows. The installer grants the Users group Full Control over C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus. Any local, low-privileged user can modify, replace, or delete antivirus binaries and configuration files in that directory. This weakness maps to [CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions]. Attackers can disable endpoint protection or achieve privileged code execution when an elevated WatchDog process loads a tampered binary. The vulnerability requires local access but no user interaction and only low privileges.

Critical Impact
Low-privileged local users can neutralize WatchDog Anti-Virus or gain code execution in the security context of an elevated antivirus process.

Affected Products

WatchDog Anti-Virus for Windows (installation directory C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus)
Any Windows host where the affected WatchDog installer applied default ACLs
Endpoints where the Users group retains Full Control on the WatchDog install path

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-20 - CVE-2026-92252 published to NVD
2026-09-22 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-92252

Vulnerability Analysis

The WatchDog Anti-Virus installer creates its program directory with an access control list (ACL) that assigns the built-in Users group Full Control. Full Control includes write, delete, and modify permissions on every file and subdirectory. Because antivirus executables and configuration files live inside this path, any interactive user can replace them without administrative rights.

Two abuse patterns follow directly from this misconfiguration. First, a local user can delete or overwrite scanner binaries and definition files to disable protection. Second, a user can substitute a WatchDog executable or supporting DLL with a malicious payload. When the WatchDog service or a scheduled task next loads that binary with elevated privileges, the attacker's code runs at that higher integrity level.

The issue is a configuration and design flaw rather than a memory safety bug. It applies to the file system ACLs written by the installer, so every fresh install inherits the weakness until remediated.

Root Cause

The installer applies overly permissive discretionary access control lists (DACLs) to the product directory. Program files under C:\Program Files (x86) should normally restrict write access to SYSTEM, Administrators, and TrustedInstaller. Granting the Users group Full Control violates Microsoft's default protection model for Program Files and enables tampering by any authenticated local user.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access with low privileges. An attacker with a standard user session enumerates the WatchDog installation folder, confirms the writable ACL, and replaces a target binary or DLL on disk. When a privileged WatchDog service, scheduled task, or auto-start component loads the replaced file, the attacker's payload executes in that elevated context. No user interaction and no network access are required. Verified proof-of-concept code is not publicly available at the time of writing.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-92252

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected file creation, replacement, or deletion inside C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus by non-administrative users
WatchDog service binaries with modified hashes, altered signatures, or missing Authenticode signatures
WatchDog processes loading unsigned or side-loaded DLLs from the installation directory
Configuration files under the WatchDog directory changed outside of a vendor update window

Detection Strategies

Audit the DACL on C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus using icacls and alert when the Users or Authenticated Users group holds write, modify, or Full Control rights
Enable Windows object access auditing (Event ID 4663) on the WatchDog install path to record write and delete operations by non-privileged accounts
Correlate file modification events with subsequent WatchDog service restarts or process launches to catch replace-and-load patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor process creation events for WatchDog binaries running with SYSTEM integrity that load modules from user-writable paths
Track antivirus service health and alert on unexpected stops, disabled definitions, or missing scheduled scans
Baseline hashes of all files in the WatchDog directory and flag deviations between vendor updates

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-92252

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all Windows endpoints running WatchDog Anti-Virus and review the ACL on the installation directory
Remove Full Control and write rights for the Users and Authenticated Users groups on C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus and its contents
Restrict write access to SYSTEM, Administrators, and TrustedInstaller in line with the default Program Files hardening model
Verify integrity of existing WatchDog binaries by comparing hashes and Authenticode signatures against vendor-published values

Patch Information

Consult the Watchdog Anti-Virus Release Notes for the fixed installer version and upgrade instructions. Coordinate disclosure and remediation timelines through the Watchdog Vulnerability Disclosure Policy. After applying the vendor update, re-verify directory permissions because prior installations may retain the weak ACL.

Workarounds

Manually reset directory permissions using icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus" /reset /t /c followed by explicit grants to privileged principals only
Deploy a Group Policy Object or Microsoft Endpoint Manager configuration profile to enforce hardened ACLs on the WatchDog path across the fleet
Restrict interactive logon on servers and shared workstations to reduce the pool of accounts that can exercise local access

bash

# Configuration example: reset and harden WatchDog install directory ACLs
icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus" /reset /t /c
icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus" /inheritance:r
icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus" /grant:r "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F"
icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus" /grant:r "BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)F"
icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Watchdog Anti-Virus" /grant:r "BUILTIN\Users:(OI)(CI)RX"