CVE-2016-9486 Privilege escalation in Windows SecureConnector agent
An authenticated unprivileged user can escalate to administrator privileges by overwriting a batch file executed by the SecureConnector agent in the user's temp directory.
- 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-2016-9486?
CVE-2016-9486 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. By default, these executable files are downloaded to and run from the %TEMP% directory of the currently logged on user, despite the fact that the SecureConnector agent is running as SYSTEM. Aside from the downloaded scripts, the SecureConnector agent runs a batch file with SYSTEM privileges from the temp directory of the currently logged on user. If the naming convention of this script can be derived, which is made possible by placing it in a directory to which the user has read access, it may be possible overwrite the legitimate batch file with a malicious one before SecureConnector executes it. It is possible to change this directory by setting the the configuration property config.script_run_folder.value in the local.properties configuration file on the CounterACT management appliance, however the batch file which is run does not follow this property.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9486?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Forescout Secureconnector.
How do I fix CVE-2016-9486?
No fix has been published for CVE-2016-9486 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2016-9486 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9486 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-2016-9485 Privilege escalation in Windows SecureConnector agent
- CVE-2024-22795 Privilege escalation in n/a
Sources
Also known as GHSA-p7f2-2jfr-jv53.