VDB-372392 · CVE-2016-20085 · Exploit 40587

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730 unquoted search path

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.1	$0-$5k	2.77-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730. It has been declared as problematic. This impacts an unknown function. Such manipulation leads to unquoted search path. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2016-20085. Local access is required to approach this attack. Moreover, an exploit is present.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown processing. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a unquoted search path vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-428. The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges by placing a malicious executable in the service path. Attackers can insert an executable file in the unquoted path and restart the service to execute code with LocalSystem privileges.

The weakness was disclosed by Joey Lane as 40587. The advisory is shared for download at exploit-db.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2016-20085 since 06/19/2026. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack needs to be approached locally. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1574.009.

The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Exploit-DB (40587). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

Hardware Driver Software

Vendor

Realtek

Name

High Definition Audio Driver

Version

6.0.1.6730

License

commercial

CPE 2.3info

🔒

CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.1

VulDB Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Temp Score: 6.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (VulnCheck): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Unquoted search path
CWE: CWE-428 / CWE-426
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Exploit-DB: 🔒

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

06/19/2026 Advisory disclosed
06/19/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
06/19/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
06/19/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: 40587
Researcher: Joey Lane
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2016-20085 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-20085
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-372392
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 06/19/2026 18:11
Changes: 06/19/2026 18:11 (80)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.