# CVE-2026-18605: CheckMAL AppCheck Pro Kernel Mini-Filter Driver AppCheckD.sys uncontrolled search path

> Local attackers can exploit an uncontrolled search path in the AppCheck Pro kernel driver to achieve privilege escalation or code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P`)
- **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:** 3 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fw2f-f4jh-88rv

## What is CVE-2026-18605?

CVE-2026-18605 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in CheckMAL AppCheck Pro, published on 3 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A security flaw has been discovered in CheckMAL AppCheck Pro 3.1.43.10. Affected is an unknown function in the library AppCheckD.sys of the component Kernel Mini-Filter Driver. Performing a manipulation results in uncontrolled search path. The attack requires a local approach. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitability is told to be difficult. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element), CWE-426 (Untrusted Search Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-18605?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-18605?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-18605 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-18605 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-18605 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-18605 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-18605 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in CheckMAL AppCheck Pro, published on 3 Aug 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-2026-18605 exists.

Affected product: CheckMAL AppCheck Pro. 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-2026-18605/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-18605/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-18605
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18605
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-18605

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-18605/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.