Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a local privilege-escalation issue in IDT PC Audio 1.0.6499.0. A low-privileged Windows user could abuse an unquoted STacSV service path so attacker-controlled code runs with LocalSystem privileges when the service starts.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on shared workstations, legacy desktop fleets, and systems where local user compromise would materially expand attacker control. This is not remote-entry risk, but it can turn limited access into full host control.
Technical view
CVE-2020-36959 is a CWE-428 unquoted service path flaw in the STacSV service. The supplied CVSS 4.0 score is 8.5 high, with local access and low privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact to vulnerable system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints or images carrying IDT PC Audio 1.0.6499.0 with the STacSV service installed. The source bundle does not prove broader product versions or platforms are affected.
Exploitation context
A public ExploitDB reference exists, but the source bundle does not show confirmed active exploitation. CISA KEV status is false. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access, making this most relevant after initial compromise or insider access.
Researcher notes
The provided records identify the vulnerable service and class but do not include vendor patch details, fixed versions, or confirmed exploitation telemetry. Treat affected-version scoping cautiously and validate directly on endpoints before broad conclusions.
Mitigation direction
- Check IDT or OEM guidance for a patched or supported driver package.
- Remove or replace vulnerable IDT PC Audio where operationally feasible.
- Quote the affected service path only if validated against vendor guidance.
- Restrict local write access to service path parent directories.
- Monitor privileged service starts and unexpected binaries near service paths.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for IDT PC Audio 1.0.6499.0.
- Confirm whether the STacSV service is present.
- Review whether the STacSV executable path is unquoted.
- Verify the service privilege context, especially LocalSystem.
- Check write permissions on each service path directory.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious service-start activity.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-428: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-36959 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe 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.
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——VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.5HighVector: 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
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-49191CVE reference, VulnCheck · exploit
- Software Download LinkCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: IDT PC Audio 1.0.6499.0 - 'STacSV' Unquoted Service PathCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.