Nssm-2.24 Privilege Escalation: [cracked]

: An attacker with low-level access replaces the nssm.exe binary with a malicious file (e.g., a reverse shell). Because NSSM usually runs as the LocalSystem account, the next time the service restarts, the attacker's code executes with full administrative power. Unquoted Service Paths :

$ sc stop SomeService && sc start SomeService

If you must use NSSM, migrate to version 2.24 . Better yet, use a maintained alternative like WinSW with XML configuration files that support integrity checks. nssm-2.24 privilege escalation

Understanding "NSSM-2.24 Privilege Escalation": Vulnerabilities, Mechanics, and Mitigation

If the attacker has write access to the service configuration (often misconfigured in legacy systems), they can proceed. : An attacker with low-level access replaces the nssm

The vulnerability in primarily stems from the Unquoted Service Path vulnerability. While not necessarily a flaw in the NSSM binary itself, the way NSSM was typically configured or installed in older setups (or within software bundled with NSSM 2.24) created a security hole. The Mechanism: Unquoted Service Paths

: Misconfigured permissions on nssm.exe allowed local privilege escalation. Mitigation and Defense Better yet, use a maintained alternative like WinSW

Or check the registry directly:

Attackers can install a NSSM service pointing to cmd.exe /c net user backdoor P@ssw0rd /add & net localgroup administrators backdoor /add . After the next reboot, the backdoor user is created.