CVE-2019-25568 in Memu Play
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
Memu Play 6.0.7 contains an insecure file permissions vulnerability that allows low-privilege users to escalate privileges by replacing the MemuService.exe executable. Attackers can rename and overwrite MemuService.exe in the installation directory with a malicious executable, which executes with system-level privileges when the service restarts after a computer reboot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25568 resides within Memu Play version 6.0.7, a popular Android emulator software that enables users to run Android applications on Windows operating systems. This security flaw represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that directly impacts the integrity and security of the system. The vulnerability stems from improper file permission settings that allow standard users to modify critical system components, creating a pathway for attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring administrative credentials. The issue manifests through the insecure handling of the MemuService.exe executable file, which serves as a core component of the emulator's service architecture.
The technical flaw involves the absence of proper access control mechanisms around the MemuService.exe file within the installation directory. When the service restarts following a system reboot, it executes the replaced executable with system-level privileges, effectively allowing any local user to execute arbitrary code with administrative rights. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where the attacker leverages the service's automatic restart mechanism to maintain persistence and execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require any specialized knowledge of the system's internal workings to exploit, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. The insecure file permissions create a persistent backdoor that remains active until the system is rebooted or the service is manually stopped.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the compromised system. Once executed, the malicious executable gains access to all system resources, user data, and network capabilities available to the system. This allows for comprehensive data exfiltration, system monitoring, and further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of Memu Play 6.0.7, creating a widespread security risk across organizations that utilize this emulator for testing or development purposes. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that even after the initial compromise, the attacker maintains access until the system is rebooted or the vulnerable service is manually disabled. This creates a significant challenge for incident response teams who must identify and remediate the threat across multiple systems.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates from the vendor, which typically involve implementing proper file permissions and access controls. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unauthorized file modifications in critical directories, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security audits of installed software. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes improper permission assignment, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and persistence mechanisms, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation technique and T1083 file and directory discovery. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify suspicious file replacement activities and service restart patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.