CVE-2018-18435
CVSS v3
7.8
HIGH
EPSS Score
1.4 %
exploit probability, as of 2026-09-25
CISA KEV
No
known exploited
Exploitation
—
SSVC status
Description
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.
Technical details
- Published
- 2019-03-21
- Exploit-DB
- EDB-46093
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2018-18435?
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.
Is CVE-2018-18435 actively exploited?
Active exploitation of CVE-2018-18435 has not been confirmed. Its EPSS score was 1.4% on 2026-09-25, the estimated probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2018-18435?
CVE-2018-18435 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.8 (HIGH severity).
Is CVE-2018-18435 affecting your environment?
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