📄 Description (English)
Macro Expert 4.7 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability that allows local users to potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. Attackers can exploit the improperly configured service path to inject malicious executables that will be run with LocalSystem permissions during service startup.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
Macro Expert 4.7 contains a critical unquoted service path vulnerability (CVE-2021-47780) allowing local privilege escalation to SYSTEM level. Attackers can inject malicious executables into the service path to achieve arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. With an available exploit and CVSS 7.8 rating, this poses immediate risk to organizations using this software, particularly in administrative and automation environments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 27, 2026 17:20
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations using Macro Expert 4.7 for automation, reporting, or administrative tasks face significant risk. Most impacted sectors include: Banking (SAMA-regulated institutions using macro automation for financial reporting), Government agencies (NCA oversight entities), Healthcare (SEHA facilities using automation tools), and Energy sector (ARAMCO and downstream operations). The vulnerability enables local privilege escalation, allowing compromised user accounts or malware to gain SYSTEM-level access, potentially leading to data exfiltration, lateral movement, and infrastructure compromise.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Manufacturing
Insurance
🎯 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
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all systems running Macro Expert 4.7 across your organization
2. Restrict local access to systems running the vulnerable software
3. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executable injection
4. Monitor service startup logs for suspicious activity
PATCHING:
1. Upgrade Macro Expert to version 4.8 or later immediately
2. Verify patch installation by checking service path configuration
3. Restart affected services after patching
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement file integrity monitoring on service directories
2. Use Windows AppLocker to restrict executable execution in service paths
3. Apply principle of least privilege - run services with minimal required permissions
4. Disable Macro Expert service if not actively required
DETECTION:
1. Monitor Windows Event Viewer for service startup failures or unexpected service modifications
2. Alert on file creation/modification in service installation directories
3. Track process execution with parent process as service host
4. Search logs for unquoted path exploitation patterns in service registry keys
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Macro Expert 4.7 في المنظمة
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي للأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل البرنامج الضعيف
3. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع حقن الملفات التنفيذية غير المصرح بها
4. مراقبة سجلات بدء الخدمة للنشاط المريب
التصحيح:
1. ترقية Macro Expert إلى الإصدار 4.8 أو أحدث فوراً
2. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح بفحص تكوين مسار الخدمة
3. إعادة تشغيل الخدمات المتأثرة بعد التصحيح
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات في مجلدات الخدمة
2. استخدام Windows AppLocker لتقييد تنفيذ الملفات التنفيذية في مسارات الخدمة
3. تطبيق مبدأ أقل امتياز - تشغيل الخدمات بأقل صلاحيات مطلوبة
4. تعطيل خدمة Macro Expert إذا لم تكن مطلوبة بنشاط
الكشف:
1. مراقبة Windows Event Viewer لفشل بدء الخدمة أو تعديلات الخدمة غير المتوقعة
2. التنبيه عند إنشاء/تعديل الملفات في مجلدات تثبيت الخدمة
3. تتبع تنفيذ العملية مع عملية الخدمة الأب
4. البحث في السجلات عن أنماط استغلال المسار غير المقتبس في مفاتيح تسجيل الخدمة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies
ECC 2024 A.6.1.1 - Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - Asset Management
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change Management
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-1 - Asset Management
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control
SAMA CSF PR.PT-1 - Protection Technology
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection and Analysis
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
ISO 27001:2022 A.6.1 - Organization of Information Security
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - Asset Management
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6 - Change Management
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.4 - Configuration Standards
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security Patches
PCI DSS 11.2 - Vulnerability Scanning
🔗 References & Sources 3
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
macro-expert:macro_expert:4.7