Privilege Escalation in Boxstarter
Priority LOW 38CWE-668Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The Boxstarter installer before version 2.13.0 configures C:\ProgramData\Boxstarter to be in the system-wide PATH environment variable. However, this directory is writable by normal, unprivileged users. To exploit the vulnerability, place a DLL in this directory that a privileged service is looking for. For example, WptsExtensions.dll When Windows starts, it'll execute the code in DllMain() with SYSTEM privileges. Any unprivileged user can execute code with SYSTEM privileges. The issue is fixed in version 3.13.0
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01551 75th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed boxstarter (chocolatey): 2.13.0
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| chocolatey | boxstarter | before 2.13.0 | 2.13.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- boxstarter Vendorchocolatey Affected before 2.13.0 Fixed in 2.13.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:chocolatey:boxstarter:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.13.0 | Vulnerable | chocolatey |
- cpe:2.3:a:chocolatey:boxstarter:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.13.0 Vulnerable ·chocolatey
Remediation
- Fix · CNA boxstarter (chocolatey) Fixed in 2.13.0
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-15264
References
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences