📄 Description (English)
Splinterware System Scheduler Pro 5.12 contains an insecure file permissions vulnerability that allows low-privilege users to escalate privileges by modifying service executable files. Attackers can rename the WService.exe file in the installation directory and replace it with a malicious executable that executes with LocalSystem privileges when the service is triggered.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2018-25359 is a critical privilege escalation vulnerability in Splinterware System Scheduler Pro 5.12 that allows low-privilege users to gain LocalSystem-level access by replacing the WService.exe executable with malicious code. The vulnerability stems from insecure file permissions on service executable files, enabling unauthorized modification. With no patch available and no exploit currently public, organizations using this legacy software face significant risk of complete system compromise.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 28, 2026 23:51
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi government agencies, financial institutions, and enterprise organizations that may still operate legacy scheduling systems. Government entities (NCA, CITC oversight) and banking sector organizations (SAMA-regulated banks) using System Scheduler Pro for critical batch processing and administrative tasks face complete system compromise risk. Energy sector organizations and healthcare facilities relying on this software for scheduled operations are particularly vulnerable. The lack of available patches makes this a persistent threat requiring immediate system decommissioning or isolation.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking and Financial Services
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Enterprise IT Operations
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1547.001 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
T1574.008 - Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Search Order Hijacking
T1222.001 - File and Directory Permissions Modification: Windows File and Directory Permissions Modification
T1036.005 - Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location
T1053.005 - Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all systems running Splinterware System Scheduler Pro 5.12 across your organization
2. Isolate affected systems from production networks if possible, or implement strict access controls
3. Restrict file system permissions on the installation directory to prevent unauthorized modifications
4. Disable the WService service if not critical to operations
Compensating Controls:
1. Implement strict file integrity monitoring (FIM) on the installation directory using tools like Tripwire or native Windows File Integrity Monitoring
2. Apply restrictive NTFS permissions: Remove 'Modify' and 'Write' permissions for non-administrative users on the installation directory
3. Enable Windows Audit Policy to log all file modifications in the scheduler installation directory
4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executable execution
5. Monitor for suspicious service restart events in Event Viewer (Event ID 7045)
Long-term Remediation:
1. Plan immediate migration to a supported, patched scheduling solution (Windows Task Scheduler, Quartz.NET, or commercial alternatives)
2. Conduct security assessment of replacement scheduling software before deployment
3. Document all scheduled tasks and migrate them to the new platform
4. Decommission System Scheduler Pro completely once migration is complete
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Splinterware System Scheduler Pro 5.12 عبر مؤسستك
2. عزل الأنظمة المتأثرة عن شبكات الإنتاج إن أمكن، أو تطبيق ضوابط وصول صارمة
3. تقييد أذونات نظام الملفات في دليل التثبيت لمنع التعديلات غير المصرح بها
4. تعطيل خدمة WService إذا لم تكن حرجة للعمليات
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. تطبيق مراقبة سلامة الملفات (FIM) الصارمة على دليل التثبيت باستخدام أدوات مثل Tripwire أو مراقبة سلامة الملفات الأصلية في Windows
2. تطبيق أذونات NTFS مقيدة: إزالة أذونات 'تعديل' و'كتابة' للمستخدمين غير الإداريين على دليل التثبيت
3. تفعيل سياسة تدقيق Windows لتسجيل جميع تعديلات الملفات في دليل المجدول
4. تطبيق القائمة البيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ الملفات القابلة للتنفيذ غير المصرح بها
5. مراقبة أحداث إعادة تشغيل الخدمة المريبة في Event Viewer (معرّف الحدث 7045)
العلاج طويل الأجل:
1. التخطيط للهجرة الفورية إلى حل جدولة مدعوم وملصق (Windows Task Scheduler أو بدائل تجارية)
2. إجراء تقييم أمني لبرنامج جدولة الاستبدال قبل النشر
3. توثيق جميع المهام المجدولة والهجرة إليها إلى المنصة الجديدة
4. إلغاء تثبيت System Scheduler Pro تماماً بمجرد اكتمال الهجرة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.8.1.1 - User access management
A.8.2.1 - User access provisioning
A.8.3.1 - Access rights review
A.9.1.1 - Physical and environmental security
A.10.1.1 - Cryptography
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and operator logs
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance - Policy and Risk Management
Governance - Organizational Structure
Governance - Third-party Management
Protection - Access Control
Protection - Data Protection
Detection - Security Monitoring
Response - Incident Management
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
6.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
8.1 - User endpoint devices
8.2 - Privileged access rights
8.3 - Information access restriction
8.4 - Access to source code
8.5 - Secure authentication
8.6 - Access control for change of user privileges
8.7 - Information security in supplier relationships
12.4 - Logging
14.2 - Secure development policy and procedures