Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Memu Play 7.1.3 reportedly installs with folder permissions that let low-privileged Windows users change the service executable. If abused, the next service restart can run attacker-controlled code as SYSTEM. This is mainly a risk on shared workstations, developer machines, kiosks, or any endpoint where non-admin users can log in locally.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation if Memu Play 7.1.3 exists on managed endpoints. The issue can turn ordinary local access into full system control. It is less urgent for environments without Memu Play or without shared/local user exposure, but should still be removed or corrected where found.
Technical view
CVE-2020-37129 is an insecure permissions issue in Microvirt Memu Play 7.1.3, mapped to CWE-276. Public descriptions say non-admin users can modify MemuService.exe and gain SYSTEM-level privileges after restart. Although the CVSS vector in the bundle is network/unauthenticated, the described attack path is local privilege escalation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running Memu Play 7.1.3. Risk is highest where untrusted or standard users have local access to the same Windows host. Organizations that do not deploy Android emulators are likely unaffected.
Exploitation context
A public Exploit-DB entry is referenced, so exploit information exists publicly. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cite active exploitation in the wild. Treat this as a serious local privilege-escalation issue, not confirmed mass exploitation.
Researcher notes
The record contains a notable inconsistency: the supplied CVSS vector implies remote unauthenticated exploitation, while the description and advisory framing indicate local privilege escalation through writable service files. Validate against the CVE and VulnCheck records before scoring internally. No vendor patch details are included in the provided sources.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints for Memu Play 7.1.3 installations.
- Remove Memu Play where it is not business-required.
- Check Microvirt guidance for fixed versions or supported remediation.
- Upgrade if the vendor provides a corrected release.
- Restrict non-admin write access to the Memu Play installation directory.
- Prioritize shared-user endpoints and systems with sensitive access.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Memu Play 7.1.3 is installed.
- Review installation directory permissions for non-admin write access.
- Check whether MemuService.exe is writable by standard users.
- Verify service runs with SYSTEM or similarly privileged context.
- Document version, host ownership, and remediation status.
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-276: 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-2020-37129 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-48283CVE reference · exploit
- Memu Play Official HomepageCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: Memu Play 7.1.3 - Insecure Folder PermissionsCVE 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.
Incorrect Default Permissions
Incorrect Default Permissions represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.