CVE-2026-14208 PUBLISHED

Remote Utilities Host <=7.7.3.0 sets insecure ACLs on all DLL files in the installation directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Remote Utilities - Host), granting FULL CONTROL (F) to the built-in Everyone group (BUILTIN\Everyone, S-1-1-0). A Windows service running as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM loads DLLs from this directory. The DLLs are file-locked at runtime, but a race window exists when the service is stopped (e.g. during a software update or following a crash), during which a local unprivileged attacker can replace a DLL with a malicious payload. Upon service restart, the payload executes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The DLL confirmed as actively loaded during testing is libasset32.dll. Additional DLLs in the same directory (eventmsg.dll, libcodec32.dll, vp8encoder.dll, vp8decoder.dll, webmvorbisdecoder.dll, webmvorbisencoder.dll, webmmux.dll) share identical insecure permissions.

Manually correct DLL ACLs using icacls: icacls "C:\Program Files (x86)\Remote Utilities - Host*.dll" /remove "Everyone" /grant "BUILTIN\Users:(RX)" /grant "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)" /grant "BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)"

• Remove Everyone:(F) ACL from all DLL files under the installation directory. Restrict to: SYSTEM (Full Control), Administrators (Full Control), Users/Authenticated Users (Read & Execute). Enforce recursively in installer, update routine, and repair mechanism.
• Implement cryptographic signature verification of all loaded DLLs at service startup.
• Use atomic DLL replacement during updates (write to temp path, verify signature, rename).

• Janik Wehrli of InfoGuard Labs finder

• Remote Utilities Pte. Ltd. – vendor website

• CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource CWE

• CAPEC-17: Using Malicious Files