HighPublic exploit

Unquoted Service Path Privilege Escalation in IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1

IdentifiersCVE-2016-20059CWE-428· Unquoted Search Path or Element

CVE-2016-20059 is a local privilege-escalation vulnerability in IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 caused by unquoted service paths in the IMFservice and LiveUpdateSvc Windows services. Because the service executable paths are not properly quoted, Windows may incorrectly resolve the path when it contains spaces, allowing a local attacker to place a malicious executable at a path segment that is searched first. When the affected service restarts or the system reboots, the malicious executable may be launched instead of the intended service binary. Successful exploitation results in attacker-controlled code execution in the security context of LocalSystem.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows a local attacker with low privileges to escalate to LocalSystem, the highest local privilege level on Windows. This can enable full compromise of the affected host, including arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM, installation of persistent malware, tampering with security controls, access to sensitive local data, and broad impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Restrict write permissions on directories in the affected service path so unprivileged users cannot place executables in candidate path locations. Monitor for unexpected binaries such as program.exe or similarly named executables in service path directories. Review Windows services for unquoted ImagePath entries, especially those running as LocalSystem, and correct them where operationally feasible. Limit local user access and prevent untrusted users from obtaining interactive access to affected systems until the issue is remediated.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade IObit Malware Fighter to a version in which the IMFservice and LiveUpdateSvc service ImagePath values are properly quoted and no longer expose an unquoted service path condition. As part of remediation, ensure all Windows service executable paths containing spaces are enclosed in quotation marks and verify that no writable directories exist in path segments that could be abused for binary planting. If no vendor-fixed version is available, manually correct the affected service configuration where supported by the vendor and validate the change after service restart.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

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VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

IobitMalware Fighterapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

3 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

3 SOURCESView more in app

cvefeed high severityNews

Apr 4, 2026

CVE-2016-20059 - IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 Unquoted Service Path Privilege Escalation

A local privilege escalation vulnerability in IObit Malware Fighter 4.3.1 caused by unquoted service paths in the IMFservice and LiveUpdateSvc services, allowing execution with LocalSystem privileges.

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity2