Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-36987 is a local privilege escalation issue in Gearboxcomputers Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0. A user already on a Windows system could abuse an improperly quoted service path for PACService.exe to run code as LocalSystem during startup or reboot. This is high priority where the product is installed on shared or user-accessible endpoints.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for any environment using this product on user-accessible Windows systems. It is not a remote internet-facing flaw, but it can turn a low-privileged local account into full system control. Confirm product presence before broad emergency action.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-428, unquoted search path or element, in PACService.exe for Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0. The CVSS 4.0 score is 8.5, with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the vulnerable system.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running Gearboxcomputers Program Access Controller version 1.2.0.0. The attacker needs local access with low privileges, so risk is highest on multi-user workstations, kiosks, lab systems, or endpoints where untrusted users can log in.
Exploitation context
The source bundle references a public ExploitDB entry, but it does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires local access and a startup or reboot condition to gain LocalSystem execution through the vulnerable service path behavior.
Researcher notes
Available evidence identifies one affected version, Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0, and one flaw class, CWE-428. No patch, fixed version, or active exploitation evidence is provided in the bundle. Public exploit reference exists, so validation should focus on asset presence and service configuration, not exploit reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems for Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0.
- Check Gearboxcomputers or VulnCheck guidance for a fixed release or supported workaround.
- Remove or disable Program Access Controller where it is not required.
- Restrict local interactive access to systems running the affected version.
- Prioritize remediation on shared endpoints and systems accessible by non-administrators.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Program Access Controller 1.2.0.0 is installed.
- Review the PACService.exe Windows service configuration for an unquoted executable path.
- Check permissions on directories in the service path for non-administrator write access.
- Verify whether vendor documentation identifies an updated or corrected service configuration.
- Document affected hosts and reboot exposure for remediation planning.
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 lookupCVE-2020-36987 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-48966CVE reference · exploit
- Vendor HomepageCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: Program Access Controller v1.2.0.0 - 'PACService.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.