CVE-2016-20085

HIGH

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730 Privilege Escalation

Title source: cna
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2016-20085. PoCs published by Joey Lane.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This is a technical writeup describing an unquoted service path privilege escalation vulnerability in the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver. It explains the vulnerability mechanics and provides an example of exploitation but does not include functional exploit code.

Description

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges by placing a malicious executable in the service path. Attackers can insert an executable file in the unquoted path and restart the service to execute code with LocalSystem privileges.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WRITEUP
by Joey Lane · textlocalwindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40587

This is a technical writeup describing an unquoted service path privilege escalation vulnerability in the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver. It explains the vulnerability mechanics and provides an example of exploitation but does not include functional exploit code.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local access to the system · Ability to place an executable in the vulnerable path
devstral-2 · analyzed Jun 19, 2026 Full analysis →

References (2)

Core 2
Core References
Exploit exploit
ExploitDB-40587
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40587
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory
VulnCheck Advisory: Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730 Privilege Escalation
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/realtek-high-definition-audio-driver-privilege-escalation

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-428
Status published
Products (1)
Realtek/Realtek High Definition Audio Driver 6.0.1.6730
Published Jun 19, 2026
Tracked Since Jun 19, 2026