📄 Description (English)
IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in the IMFservice and LiveUpdateSvc services that allows local attackers to escalate privileges. Attackers can insert a malicious executable file in the unquoted service path and trigger privilege escalation when the service restarts or the system reboots, executing code with LocalSystem privileges.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2016-20059 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 affecting unquoted service paths in IMFservice and LiveUpdateSvc services. An authenticated local attacker can place a malicious executable in the service path to achieve LocalSystem-level code execution upon service restart or system reboot. With a CVSS score of 7.8 and no available patch, this poses a significant risk to organizations relying on this security tool.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 26, 2026 22:51
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi organizations using IObit Malware Fighter as a security solution, particularly in: (1) Government agencies and NCA-regulated entities where endpoint security is critical; (2) Banking and financial institutions under SAMA oversight that may use this tool for workstation protection; (3) Healthcare organizations managing sensitive patient data; (4) Energy sector including ARAMCO subsidiaries; (5) Telecommunications companies like STC and Mobily. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it affects a security tool itself, potentially undermining the entire endpoint protection strategy. Local attackers with system access could escalate to administrative control, compromising data confidentiality and system integrity.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government and Public Administration
Banking and Financial Services
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Critical Infrastructure
Education and Research
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1547.001 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
T1547.011 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Services
T1134.003 - Access Token Manipulation: Make and Impersonate Token
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1574.008 - Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Search Order Hijacking
T1036.003 - Masquerading: Rename System Utilities
T1053.005 - Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
T1611 - Escape to Host
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all systems running IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 across your organization
2. Restrict local user access and implement principle of least privilege to minimize local attack surface
3. Disable or remove IMFservice and LiveUpdateSvc if not actively required
4. Monitor service restart events and system boot activities for suspicious executable creation
Patching Guidance:
1. Upgrade IObit Malware Fighter to the latest available version (check IObit official website for updates beyond 4.3.1)
2. If upgrade is not immediately possible, uninstall the affected version and replace with alternative endpoint protection solution
3. Test any updates in non-production environment first
Compensating Controls:
1. Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on service directories (typically C:\Program Files\IObit\) to detect unauthorized executable placement
2. Enable Windows AppLocker or equivalent to restrict executable execution from service paths
3. Configure Windows Event Log monitoring for service start/stop events (Event ID 7034, 7035, 7036)
4. Implement strict file system permissions on service directories (remove write access for non-administrative users)
5. Use Group Policy to enforce code signing requirements for service executables
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for file creation in Program Files directories with suspicious names matching service startup patterns
2. Alert on IMFservice or LiveUpdateSvc restart events followed by unexpected process execution
3. Track registry modifications to service configuration (HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\)
4. Monitor for privilege escalation attempts from low-privilege processes to LocalSystem
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 عبر المنظمة
2. تقييد وصول المستخدمين المحليين وتطبيق مبدأ الامتياز الأقل الضروري لتقليل سطح الهجوم المحلي
3. تعطيل أو إزالة IMFservice و LiveUpdateSvc إذا لم تكن مطلوبة بنشاط
4. مراقبة أحداث إعادة تشغيل الخدمة والأنشطة المريبة لإنشاء ملفات تنفيذية
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية IObit Malware Fighter إلى أحدث إصدار متاح (تحقق من موقع IObit الرسمي للتحديثات بعد 4.3.1)
2. إذا لم يكن الترقية ممكنة فوراً، قم بإلغاء تثبيت الإصدار المتأثر واستبدله بحل حماية نقطة نهاية بديل
3. اختبر أي تحديثات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. تطبيق مراقبة سلامة الملفات (FIM) على دلائل الخدمات للكشف عن وضع ملفات تنفيذية غير مصرح به
2. تفعيل Windows AppLocker أو ما يعادله لتقييد تنفيذ الملفات التنفيذية من مسارات الخدمات
3. تكوين مراقبة سجل أحداث Windows لأحداث بدء/إيقاف الخدمة
4. تطبيق أذونات نظام الملفات الصارمة على دلائل الخدمات
5. استخدام Group Policy لفرض متطلبات التوقيع الرقمي للملفات التنفيذية للخدمات
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة إنشاء الملفات في دلائل Program Files بأسماء مريبة
2. التنبيه على أحداث إعادة تشغيل الخدمات متبوعة بتنفيذ عمليات غير متوقعة
3. تتبع تعديلات السجل لتكوين الخدمة
4. مراقبة محاولات تصعيد الامتيازات من العمليات منخفضة الامتياز إلى LocalSystem
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.5.2.1 - User access management
A.5.2.2 - Privileged access rights
A.5.2.3 - User access review
A.6.1.1 - Cryptography and key management
A.6.2.1 - Physical and environmental security
A.8.1.1 - Audit logging
A.8.1.2 - Protection of log information
A.8.2.1 - Malware protection
A.8.2.2 - Removal of malware
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance - Security Policy and Risk Management
Governance - Incident Management
Protection - Access Control and Authentication
Protection - Endpoint Protection and Malware Defense
Detection - Security Monitoring and Logging
Response - Incident Response and Recovery
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.5.2.1 - User registration and de-registration
A.5.2.2 - User access provisioning
A.5.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
A.5.2.4 - Management of secret authentication information
A.6.1.1 - Encryption
A.8.1.1 - Audit logging
A.8.1.2 - Protection of log information
A.8.2.1 - Malware protection
A.8.3.1 - Event logging
A.8.3.2 - Protection of log information
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 1.1 - Firewall configuration standards
Requirement 2.1 - Default security parameters
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches and updates
Requirement 7.1 - Limit access to system components
Requirement 8.1 - User identification and authentication
Requirement 10.1 - Implement automated audit trails
🔗 References & Sources 4
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http://www.iobit.com/downloadcenter.php?product=malware-fighter-free
disclosure@vulncheck.com
http://www.iobit.com/en/index.php
disclosure@vulncheck.com
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40525
disclosure@vulncheck.com
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/iobit-malware-fighter-unquoted-service-path-privil...
disclosure@vulncheck.com