Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2018-18435

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder...

7.8 HighPublic exploit

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

1.38%Down 4.0 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one.

Record
CVE-2018-18435
CVSS 3.0
7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
7.2 HighAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Weakness
CWE-732
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one.

Record
CVE-2018-18435
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-10163 No score

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one.

Record
EUVD-2018-10163
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-cv2p-jhjf-54gq 7.8

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder...

KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one.

Record
GHSA-cv2p-jhjf-54gq
CVSS 3.0
7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-732
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
Exploit-DBKioWare Server Version 4.9.6 - Weak Folder Permissions Privilege Escalation2019-01-07

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2018-18435 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Kioware Server, published March 17, 2019. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.38%, the 72nd percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

Pages All vulnerabilities Browse Docs Sources Guide Get API key
MoveEnter Open