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CVE Record

CVE-2016-20033: Wowza Streaming Engine 4.5.0 Local Privilege Escalation via nssm_x64.exe

Wowza Streaming Engine 4.5.0 contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users to escalate privileges by replacing executable files due to improper file permissions granting full access to the Everyone group. Attackers can replace the nssm_x64.exe binary in the manager and engine service directories with malicious executables to execute code with LocalSystem privileges when services restart.

HighCVSS 8.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysis

Security readout for executives and security teams

Wowza Streaming Engine 4.5.0 can let a low-privileged local user become LocalSystem by replacing service executables because installation permissions are too broad. This is serious on servers where users, support tools, or compromised accounts have local access. It is not a remote-entry vulnerability by itself. Exposure is limited to systems running Wowza Streaming Engine 4.5.0 where untrusted or compromised authenticated users can access the host filesystem. Internet exposure matters less than local account exposure, remote management pathways, and endpoint compromise risk. Prioritize remediation for production Wowza servers with multiple local users, remote administration, or high-value media workloads. If version 4.5.0 is present, reduce local access immediately and seek vendor-supported upgrade or remediation guidance. Mitigation focus: Inventory Wowza Streaming Engine installations and identify version 4.5.0.; Restrict local interactive and remote login access to Wowza hosts.; Review vendor guidance for fixed versions or official remediation..

Prepared

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-639: Exact CWE lookup

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Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2016-20033 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.5 (4.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: 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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.5CVSS 4.0HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NPrimary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 4.0 score

8.5High
CVSS 4.0 vector shape for CVE-2016-20033Attack VectorAttack ComplexityAttack RequirementsPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionVS ConfidentialityVS IntegrityVS AvailabilitySS ConfidentialitySS IntegritySS Availability

Vector: 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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Attack Requirements
NonePresent
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NonePassiveActive
VS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
VS Integrity
HighLowNone
VS Availability
HighLowNone
SS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
SS Integrity
HighLowNone
SS Availability
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Wowza Media Systems, LLC.Wowza Streaming Engine4.5.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-639 · source CWE mapping

Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.