Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Private Internet Access 3.3.0.100 has a Windows service configuration weakness. A local user could abuse the unquoted pia-service path so code runs with LocalSystem privileges when the service starts. This is a privilege-escalation issue, not a remote internet-facing flaw based on the provided sources.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for endpoint remediation where PIA 3.3.0.100 exists. It does not appear remotely exploitable from the provided sources, but it can turn limited local access into full system control.
Technical view
CVE-2022-50924 is CWE-428: unquoted search path or element. The affected Private Internet Access version 3.3.0.100 configures pia-service with an unquoted path, enabling a low-privileged local attacker to influence service startup execution and gain LocalSystem-level code execution. CVSS v4.0 score is 8.5.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to endpoints with Private Internet Access 3.3.0.100 installed and pia-service present. The attacker needs local user access. The provided sources do not identify server-side exposure or other affected versions.
Exploitation context
ExploitDB lists a public exploit reference, but the CVE is not in KEV and the provided sources do not state active exploitation. The main risk is local privilege escalation after initial access or by an insider on an affected endpoint.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a local privilege escalation in PIA 3.3.0.100 via pia-service unquoted path. Patch status is not specified in the provided sources. Avoid assuming later versions are fixed unless confirmed by vendor documentation or advisory text.
Mitigation direction
- Identify endpoints running Private Internet Access 3.3.0.100.
- Check Private Internet Access vendor guidance and download page for corrected versions.
- Upgrade, remove, or disable affected software according to vendor-approved guidance.
- Restrict local user access on systems where remediation is delayed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Private Internet Access versions across managed endpoints.
- Confirm whether pia-service exists on systems with version 3.3.0.100.
- Review service configuration for an unquoted executable path.
- Track remediation status and recheck after any upgrade or reinstall.
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-2022-50924 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-50804CVE reference · exploit
- Vendor HomepageCVE reference · product
- Software Download PageCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: Private Internet Access 3.3 - 'pia-service' 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.