# CVE-2022-50971: Malwarebytes Unquoted Service Path Privilege Escalation in MBAMService

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-50971-malwarebytes-unquoted-service-path-privilege-escalation-in  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-19. Updated: 2026-06-21  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-50971 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-06-19

Malwarebytes 4.5 is an antivirus and security software suite used to protect computers from malicious software. A vulnerability in how the software starts its background service allows a person with limited access to the computer to trick the system into running their own malicious code with full administrative control. This could lead to a complete takeover of the machine, allowing an attacker to bypass security settings or access sensitive data.

Technologies: [Malwarebytes](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/malwarebytes). Vendors: [Malwarebytes](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/malwarebytes).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-50971 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2022-50971 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2022-50971?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 19 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Malwarebytes 4.5.0 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-50971?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2022-50971 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-50971?** Check whether you run Malwarebytes at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

An unquoted service path vulnerability (CWE-428) exists in the MBAMService executable within Malwarebytes version 4.5.0 and potentially earlier. The service's binary path contains spaces and is not enclosed in quotation marks, which allows a local attacker with write permissions to the system root or intermediate directories to place a malicious executable (e.g., C:\Program.exe). Because the service runs with LocalSystem privileges, the malicious file will be executed with elevated permissions during the next service start or system reboot. This is a local attack vector requiring prior access to the filesystem but no user interaction.

## Affected products

- Malwarebytes Malwarebytes 4.5.0 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2022-03-07: other: Exploit first published on Exploit-DB
- 2026-06-19: advisory: NVD/VulnCheck advisory published

## References

- [https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/50806](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/50806)
- [https://www.malwarebytes.com/](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)
- [https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/](https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/malwarebytes-unquoted-service-path-privilege-escalation](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/malwarebytes-unquoted-service-path-privilege-escalation)

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