📄 Description (English)
Alps Pointing-device Controller 8.1202.1711.04 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in the ApHidMonitorService that allows local attackers to execute code with elevated privileges. Attackers can place a malicious executable in the service path and gain system-level access when the service restarts or the system reboots.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2019-25285 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Alps Pointing-device Controller affecting the ApHidMonitorService through an unquoted service path. Local attackers can execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges by placing a malicious executable in the service path, requiring only local access and a system restart. With a CVSS score of 7.8, this poses significant risk to organizations where endpoint security controls are insufficient.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 27, 2026 03:06
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi government agencies, financial institutions, and large enterprises using Alps pointing devices (touchpads/trackpads) on Windows systems. High-risk sectors include: SAMA-regulated banking institutions, NCA government entities, healthcare facilities (MOH), and energy sector organizations. The threat is particularly severe in organizations with shared workstations or BYOD policies where local user access is common. Saudi organizations with strict endpoint hardening may have reduced exposure, but legacy systems remain vulnerable.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services (SAMA-regulated)
Government and Public Administration (NCA oversight)
Healthcare (MOH facilities)
Energy and Utilities (ARAMCO, SEC)
Telecommunications (STC, Mobily, Zain)
Education (Universities, Research Institutions)
Large Enterprises with IT infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Unquoted Service Path
T1547.011 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Services
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
T1574.008 - Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Search Order Hijacking
T1053.005 - Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
T1078.003 - Valid Accounts: Local Accounts
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all systems running Alps Pointing-device Controller 8.1202.1711.04 using endpoint detection tools or SCCM inventory
2. Restrict local user access on affected systems; disable unnecessary local accounts
3. Implement application whitelisting on affected endpoints to prevent unauthorized executable execution
4. Monitor service startup logs for ApHidMonitorService anomalies
PATCHING:
1. Update Alps Pointing-device Controller to version 8.1202.1712.00 or later (patch available)
2. Deploy patches via WSUS/SCCM with priority scheduling
3. Test patches in non-production environment before enterprise rollout
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement file integrity monitoring on C:\Program Files\Alps directories
2. Restrict write permissions on service path directories to SYSTEM and Administrators only
3. Enable Windows Defender Application Guard on high-risk systems
4. Deploy behavioral detection rules for suspicious service path modifications
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor Event ID 7045 (Service Installation) for ApHidMonitorService modifications
2. Alert on file creation in service path directories with executable extensions
3. Track process execution from unexpected locations matching service path patterns
4. Monitor registry changes to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ApHidMonitorService
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Alps Pointing-device Controller 8.1202.1711.04 باستخدام أدوات كشف نقاط النهاية أو جرد SCCM
2. تقييد وصول المستخدم المحلي على الأنظمة المتأثرة؛ تعطيل الحسابات المحلية غير الضرورية
3. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات على نقاط النهاية المتأثرة لمنع تنفيذ الملفات القابلة للتنفيذ غير المصرح بها
4. مراقبة سجلات بدء تشغيل الخدمة للكشف عن شذوذ ApHidMonitorService
التصحيح:
1. تحديث Alps Pointing-device Controller إلى الإصدار 8.1202.1712.00 أو أحدث (التصحيح متاح)
2. نشر التصحيحات عبر WSUS/SCCM مع جدولة الأولويات
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج قبل النشر على مستوى المؤسسة
عناصر التحكم البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات على أدلة C:\Program Files\Alps
2. تقييد أذونات الكتابة على أدلة مسار الخدمة لـ SYSTEM والمسؤولين فقط
3. تفعيل Windows Defender Application Guard على الأنظمة عالية المخاطر
4. نشر قواعد الكشف السلوكي لتعديلات مسار الخدمة المريبة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة معرف الحدث 7045 (تثبيت الخدمة) لتعديلات ApHidMonitorService
2. التنبيه عند إنشاء ملف في أدلة مسار الخدمة بامتدادات قابلة للتنفيذ
3. تتبع تنفيذ العملية من مواقع غير متوقعة تطابق أنماط مسار الخدمة
4. مراقبة تغييرات السجل إلى HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ApHidMonitorService
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Policies and procedures for access control
A.5.2.1 - User registration and de-registration
A.5.2.2 - User access provisioning
A.8.1.1 - Information security awareness and training
A.8.2.1 - Malware protection
A.8.2.3 - Log management
A.8.3.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software inventory
PR.AC-1 - Access control policy
PR.AC-4 - Access rights management
PR.DS-2 - Data security
PR.PT-1 - Security awareness and training
DE.CM-1 - System monitoring
DE.CM-3 - Unauthorized software detection
RS.MI-2 - Incident response procedures
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - Malware protection
A.8.3.1 - Management of removable media
A.8.3.2 - Information handling
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and operator logs
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
2.2.4 - Configure system security parameters
6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed
8.1.1 - Assign unique ID to each person
10.2.1 - Implement automated audit trails