CVE-2016-9485 Privilege escalation in Windows SecureConnector agent
An unprivileged user can escalate to SYSTEM privileges by modifying downloaded executables due to missing file permissions in the SecureConnector agent.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2016-9485?
CVE-2016-9485 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows SecureConnector agent, published on 13 Jul 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
On Windows endpoints, the SecureConnector agent must run under the local SYSTEM account or another administrator account in order to enable full functionality of the agent. The typical configuration is for the agent to run as a Windows service under the local SYSTEM account. The SecureConnector agent runs various plugin scripts and executables on the endpoint in order to gather and report information about the host to the CounterACT management appliance. The SecureConnector agent downloads these scripts and executables as needed from the CounterACT management appliance and runs them on the endpoint. The SecureConnector agent fails to set any permissions on downloaded file objects. This allows a malicious user to take ownership of any of these files and make modifications to it, regardless of where the files are saved. These files are then executed under SYSTEM privileges. A malicious unprivileged user can overwrite these executable files with malicious code before the SecureConnector agent executes them, causing the malicious code to be run under the SYSTEM account.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9485?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Forescout Secureconnector.
How do I fix CVE-2016-9485?
No fix has been published for CVE-2016-9485 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2016-9485 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9485 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows SecureConnector agent
- CVE-2025-4660 Remote Code Execution in Windows Secure Connector/ HPS Inspection Engine via Insecure Named Pipe Access
- CVE-2024-9950 Abuse of Unauthenticated Compliance Recheck in SecureConnector
- CVE-2023-39374 ForeScout NAC SecureConnector – CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
- CVE-2016-9486 Privilege escalation in Windows SecureConnector agent
- CVE-2024-22795 Privilege escalation in n/a
Sources
Also known as GHSA-99m8-724v-vh9j.