# CVE-2020-36976: Global Registration Service 1.0.0.3 - 'GREGsvc.exe' Unquoted Service Path

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges by exploiting an unquoted service path in Acer Global Registration Service.

- **Severity:** High 8.5 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Jan 2026
- **Updated:** 29 Jan 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-56p5-hjp2-w73q

## What is CVE-2020-36976?

CVE-2020-36976 is a high-severity vulnerability in Acer Global Registration Service, published on 27 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Acer Global Registration Service 1.0.0.3 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in its service configuration that allows local users to potentially execute arbitrary code. Attackers can exploit the unquoted path in C:\Program Files (x86)\Acer\Registration\ to inject malicious executables that would run with elevated LocalSystem privileges during service startup.

Weakness: CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-36976?


## How do I fix CVE-2020-36976?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-36976 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-36976 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36976 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-36976 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-36976 is a high-severity vulnerability in Acer Global Registration Service, published on 27 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36976 exists.

Affected product: Acer Global Registration Service. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36976/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36976/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36976
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36976
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-36976

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36976/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.