Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-36974 is a Windows local privilege-escalation issue in Realtek Andrea RT Filters 1.0.64.7. A low-privileged local user could potentially cause code to run with elevated privileges during service startup or reboot. This is most relevant to managed endpoints where this audio-related component is installed.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint hygiene issue, not an internet-facing emergency. Focus first on shared workstations, kiosks, labs, and systems where standard users can log in. Business urgency increases if the affected component is broadly deployed across managed endpoints.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-428, an unquoted service path, associated with the Realtek Andrea RT Filters service binary path under C:\Program Files\IDT\WDM\. The source bundle reports CVSS 4.0 score 8.5 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Windows systems running Realtek Andrea RT Filters version 1.0.64.7, especially systems with the referenced IDT WDM service path. Organizations should validate through endpoint inventory rather than assuming all Realtek audio deployments are affected.
Exploitation context
The bundle cites an Exploit-DB entry, so public exploit information exists. However, the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided data, and no cited source states active exploitation in the wild. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges and depends on service startup or reboot behavior.
Researcher notes
The title references AERTSr64.EXE, while the description references AESTSr64.exe; preserve this naming discrepancy during validation. The provided sources do not identify a vendor patch, fixed version, or confirmed active exploitation. Avoid broad product assumptions beyond Realtek Andrea RT Filters 1.0.64.7.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints for Realtek Andrea RT Filters 1.0.64.7.
- Check Realtek, OEM, or VulnCheck guidance for updates or supported remediation.
- Remove or disable the affected component if business-approved and not required.
- Prioritize hardening systems where untrusted local users can log in.
- Monitor endpoint detections for suspicious service-path or startup changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Realtek Andrea RT Filters 1.0.64.7 is installed.
- Review the affected service configuration for an unquoted executable path.
- Check whether the referenced IDT WDM path exists on endpoints.
- Verify whether compensating controls limit local user access.
- Track vendor or OEM advisories for confirmed fixed versions.
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-2020-36974 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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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——Primary CVE scoreVulnerability 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
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-49158CVE reference · exploit
- Realtek Official HomepageCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: Realtek Andrea RT Filters 1.0.64.7 - 'AERTSr64.EXE' Unquoted Service PathCVE reference · 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.
Unquoted Search Path or Element
Unquoted Search Path or Element represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.