The Active WebCam 11.5 vulnerability (CVE-2021-47790) is a local privilege escalation flaw caused by an unquoted service path. The Vulnerability
Cause: The service was installed using a file path that contains spaces but lacks double quotes (e.g., C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\service.exe instead of "C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\service.exe").
Impact: A local attacker with limited privileges can place a malicious executable in a parent directory (like C:\Program.exe). When the service restarts, Windows may execute the malicious file instead of the intended program, potentially granting the attacker administrative (SYSTEM) privileges.
Verification: The issue was documented as EDB-ID 50273 and officially assigned CVE-2021-47790. How to Patch It
If you are still using version 11.5, you can manually patch this vulnerability by wrapping the service path in quotes within the Windows Registry: Open Registry Editor: Run regedit as an administrator.
Locate the Service: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\.
Edit Path: Find the entry for Active WebCam and modify the ImagePath value to include double quotes around the full path.
Alternatively, you can use a command-line tool to identify and fix unquoted paths across your system. CVE-2021-47790 Detail - NVD
A critical security flaw in Active WebCam 11.5 unquoted service path vulnerability tracked as CVE-2021-47790
, was recently highlighted for its potential to grant attackers administrative control. Understanding the Risk: CVE-2021-47790
The vulnerability occurs when a Windows service is installed with a path that contains spaces (e.g., C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\awc.exe
) but lacks surrounding double quotes. Due to how Windows handles file execution, an attacker can place a malicious executable in a parent directory—such as C:\Program.exe —which the system will mistakenly execute with LocalSystem privileges when the service starts. active webcam 115 unquoted service path patched
: Elevated system privileges, arbitrary code execution, and potential full system compromise.
: Local attackers with basic file-writing permissions can exploit this misconfiguration. How to Patch and Secure Your System
If you are running Active WebCam 11.5, it is vital to verify and fix the service path. While specialized security intelligence platforms like
monitor these threats, you can manually remediate the issue using these steps: Identify the Path : Use the command prompt as an administrator to run:
wmic service get name,pathname,displayname | findstr /i "Active WebCam" Check if the "pathname" lacks double quotes. Edit the Registry Registry Editor ) as an administrator. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ Find the Active WebCam service entry and locate the Manually add double quotes around the entire path (e.g., "C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\awc.exe" Restart the Service
: Stop and restart the service for the changes to take effect. For those managing multiple assets, resources from Exploit-DB
provide further technical documentation on this and similar vulnerabilities. PowerShell script
to automatically detect and wrap unquoted paths for all your installed services? CVE-2021-47790 Detail - NVD
Active WebCam version 11.5 was found to have a critical security flaw known as an unquoted service path vulnerability (tracked as CVE-2021-47790). This allows a local attacker to gain administrative control over your computer. What is the Vulnerability?
An unquoted service path happens when a software's file path contains spaces but isn't wrapped in quotation marks in the Windows Registry.
When Windows tries to start the service, it reads the path one segment at a time. For example, if the path is C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\WebCam.exe, Windows might mistakenly try to run a malicious file named C:\Program.exe or C:\Program Files\Active.exe instead. How it was Patched The Active WebCam 11
The software's developer, PY Software, addressed this issue in version 11.6. The fix simply involves adding quotes around the service's executable path in the Windows Registry, ensuring the operating system only runs the intended WebCam.exe file. Steps to Secure Your System
If you are still using version 11.5, you can secure it by following these steps: Active WebCam 11.5 - Unquoted Service Path | Advisories
Active WebCam 11.5. CVE CVE-2021-47790. CWE-428 Unquoted Search Path or Element. CVSS 8.5. CVSS V4 Vector CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/ Active WebCam Download - 11.6 - TechSpot
About Active WebCam. Active WebCam captures images up to 30 frames per second from any video device including USB, analog cameras, Active WebCam Download - Webcam streaming app
The unquoted service path vulnerability in Active WebCam 11.5
(identified as CVE-2021-47790) represents a significant security risk that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. This vulnerability arises from a misconfiguration in how the software registers its executable path within the Windows operating system. The Mechanics of the Vulnerability
In Windows, when a service is installed with a file path containing spaces (e.g., C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\WebCam.exe
) and is not enclosed in double quotes, the operating system interprets the spaces as separators. An attacker with local write permissions can place a malicious executable at a higher-level directory—such as C:\Program.exe
—which Windows will then execute instead of the intended service file during system startup. Because services like Active WebCam often run with LocalSystem
or administrative privileges, this exploit results in a full privilege escalation for the attacker. National Institute of Standards and Technology (.gov) Vulnerability Details Software Version : Active WebCam 11.5. Vulnerability Type : Local Privilege Escalation via Unquoted Service Path. Affected Path : Typically C:\Program Files\Active WebCam\WebCam.exe Primary Risk
: Attackers gaining administrative or SYSTEM access to the machine. Patching and Remediation For System Administrators
While official patches for legacy software may be limited, users can manually "patch" or remediate this vulnerability by editing the Windows Registry to secure the service path. InfoSec Governance
Potential Exploitation of an Unquoted Service Path Vulnerability - Elastic
Here’s a structured content piece for a security advisory or blog post titled “Active WebCam 115 – Unquoted Service Path Patched”:
sc query state= all | findstr /i "BINARY_PATH_NAME"Get-WmiObject win32_service | select name, pathname | where $_.pathname -notlike '"*' -and $_.pathname -like '* *'Administrators and users can verify the fix by running:
sc qc "Active Webcam Service"
The BINARY_PATH_NAME should now show quotes around the entire path. Also, checking the Registry path:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Active Webcam Service\ImagePath
The value should be of type REG_EXPAND_SZ or REG_SZ with quotes.
In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, privilege escalation vulnerabilities often lurk in seemingly benign software configurations. One such classic but persistently dangerous flaw is the Unquoted Service Path vulnerability. When discovered in widely used software like Active Webcam 115, this flaw can allow a local attacker to escalate privileges from a standard user to SYSTEM, potentially leading to a full system compromise.
Recently, security researchers and system administrators have focused on the phrase "active webcam 115 unquoted service path patched" — a signal that the vendor has finally addressed a critical weakness in their software. But what does this vulnerability actually entail? How did it remain unpatched for so long? And most importantly, what can users and IT professionals learn from this patch cycle?
This article provides an exhaustive technical breakdown of the unquoted service path vulnerability in Active Webcam 115, how it was exploited, the patching process, and the broader lessons for Windows service security.
If a patch is not available (rare now), manually edit the Registry:
regedit.exeHKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Active Webcam ServiceImagePath"C:\Program Files\Active Webcam\awservice.exe"The developer modified the service installer to enclose the binary path in double quotes:
Before (vulnerable):
C:\Program Files\Active Webcam\awservice.exe
After (patched):
"C:\Program Files\Active Webcam\awservice.exe"