: Always wrap service paths in double quotes to prevent unquoted path attacks.
Ensure all service paths are properly quoted. Example: "C:\Program Files\My App\nssm.exe"
IBM Robotic Process Automation versions 21.0.0 through 21.0.7.17 and 23.0.0 through 23.0.18 could allow a local user to escalate their privileges. All files in the installation inherit file permissions from the parent directory, enabling a non-privileged user to substitute any executable for the nssm.exe service.
NSSM 2.24 restarts App.exe , executing the payload as SYSTEM . 3. Misconfiguration of the NSSM.exe Binary nssm-2.24 privilege escalation
Windows handles unquoted spaces in service paths incorrectly, allowing an attacker to place a malicious executable in a location that the service will mistakenly run instead of the legitimate application. 2. Technical Details of the Attack
Ensure that service installation directories have appropriate permissions. Vulnerabilities often arise because the parent directory—not the binary itself—has weak permissions that are inherited by child files. Secure both the binary and its containing folder.
or the binary it wraps has "Full Control" or "Write" permissions for the "Users" group, an attacker can replace the binary with a malicious one. Abuse by Malware : Always wrap service paths in double quotes
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When NSSM 2.24 is present, it is usually targeted via three common Windows service misconfigurations: Head Mare and Twelve: Joint attacks on Russian entities
The "nssm-2.24 privilege escalation" typically refers to an insecure configuration rather than a memory corruption bug. The exploit usually follows one of two paths: All files in the installation inherit file permissions
# Copy the vulnerable binary to a writable location copy "%ProgramFiles%\NSSM\nssm-2.24.exe" .\nssm.exe
If you want, I can:
The attacker runs:
: Version 2.24 was released in 2014 and remains the standard "stable" version bundled with many older applications.