CVE-2020-36879 in DiskBoss
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2025
Flexsense DiskBoss 11.7.28 allows unauthenticated attackers to elevate their privileges using any of its services, enabling remote code execution during startup or reboot with escalated privileges. Attackers can exploit the unquoted service path vulnerability by specifying a malicious service name in the 'sc qc' command, allowing them to execute arbitrary system commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36879 affects Flexsense DiskBoss version 11.7.28 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. This vulnerability specifically targets the service configuration mechanism within the DiskBoss application, creating a pathway for remote code execution during system startup or reboot operations. The flaw stems from improper handling of service paths that lack proper quotation, creating a dangerous condition where attackers can manipulate the execution flow of legitimate system services.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-150, which describes improper handling of unquoted service paths in Windows service configurations. When DiskBoss installs its services, it creates entries in the Windows service control manager without properly quoting the service binary paths. This creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can place a malicious executable in a directory that appears earlier in the Windows search path, effectively hijacking the legitimate service execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to specify a malicious service name through the 'sc qc' command, which then gets processed without proper validation, leading to arbitrary command execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with a persistent backdoor that can execute code with SYSTEM privileges during system startup or reboot cycles. This timing is particularly advantageous for attackers as it ensures execution before normal user authentication occurs, allowing them to establish a foothold that persists across system reboots. The vulnerability affects the Windows service architecture and can be exploited through various attack vectors including network-based exploitation, local privilege escalation, and supply chain attacks targeting the DiskBoss installation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install rootkits, backdoors, or other malicious software that operates with the highest system privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate service path hardening and system configuration updates. Organizations should implement proper service path quoting during installation processes to prevent path traversal attacks, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1543.003 for creating or modifying system level execution mechanisms. The recommended approach includes patching the DiskBoss application to version 11.7.29 or later, which addresses the unquoted service path vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough service configuration audits, implement least privilege principles for service accounts, and monitor for suspicious service creation or modification activities. Network segmentation and endpoint detection and response solutions should be deployed to identify potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that service paths are properly quoted and that no vulnerable services exist in the environment.