# CVE-2026-57223: Suricata unquoted service path privilege escalation on Windows

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57223-suricata-is-a-network-intrusion-detection-system-intrusion  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-18. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-57223 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-09-18

Suricata is a network security engine that detects and prevents intrusions on Windows systems. When Suricata is installed to a path containing spaces, a local attacker with write access to an earlier directory component can exploit the unquoted service path to execute arbitrary code with system privileges, leading to complete system compromise.

Technologies: [OISF Suricata](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/suricata). Vendors: [OISF](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/oisf).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-57223 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-57223 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-57223?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 18 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** OISF Suricata before 7.0.17 and 8.0.6.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-57223?** A patch was published on 2026: Fixed in versions 8.0.6 and 7.0.17 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-57223 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-57223?** Check whether you run OISF Suricata 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

The Windows service installation logic in src/win32-service.c passes an unquoted ImagePath to CreateServiceA, violating Windows API requirements for paths containing spaces. An attacker with write access to a parent directory of the installation path can place a malicious executable that Windows will execute with LocalSystem privileges. This requires local access and writable directory on the installation path, but results in privilege escalation from a low-privileged account to SYSTEM.

## Affected products

- OISF Suricata before 7.0.17 and 8.0.6

## Timeline

- 2026-09-18: disclosed
- 2026: patched: Fixed in versions 8.0.6 and 7.0.17

## References

- [https://github.com/OISF/suricata/commit/0dad38fff024b4fec9bc8144d8b94dbca39aac2e](https://github.com/OISF/suricata/commit/0dad38fff024b4fec9bc8144d8b94dbca39aac2e)
- [https://github.com/OISF/suricata/commit/2b924d47cc51d0b7760cda3519f2c04a2f65ea38](https://github.com/OISF/suricata/commit/2b924d47cc51d0b7760cda3519f2c04a2f65ea38)

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- [Suricata DoH2 type confusion in HTTP state cleanup](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-94083-suricata-before-8-0-7-has-a-doh2-type-confusion-that-can-cause-an)
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