CVE-2016-8225 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Unquoted service path vulnerability in Lenovo Edge and Lenovo Slim USB Keyboard Driver versions earlier than 1.21 allows local users to execute code with elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8225 represents a critical unquoted service path weakness affecting Lenovo Edge and Lenovo Slim USB Keyboard Driver software versions prior to 1.21. This flaw resides in the Windows service installation process where the service path is not properly quoted, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where the keyboard driver service is installed without proper quotation of the executable path, allowing attackers to place malicious executables in directories that are searched before the legitimate service executable.
From a technical perspective this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-428, which describes the weakness of unquoted service paths in Windows environments. The flaw occurs when Windows services are installed with paths containing spaces but without proper quotation, enabling attackers to create malicious executables in parent directories that will be executed instead of the legitimate service binary. In the context of Lenovo keyboard drivers, this typically manifests when the service executable path contains spaces and is not enclosed in double quotes during installation, creating a path traversal opportunity for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows local users to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user restrictions. Attackers can exploit this by placing a malicious executable with the same name as the service in a directory that appears earlier in the Windows search path, causing the system to execute the attacker-controlled binary instead of the legitimate service. This creates a persistent backdoor that can be used to maintain administrative access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious tools. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to systems running vulnerable keyboard drivers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8225 should include immediate patching of affected Lenovo keyboard driver installations to version 1.21 or later, which properly addresses the unquoted service path issue. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of installed services to identify any other unquoted paths that may be susceptible to similar exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper service path quoting during software installation processes and maintaining strict access controls can prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this technique under privilege escalation methods, specifically noting that unquoted service paths represent a common attack vector for maintaining persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious service installations to detect potential exploitation attempts.