# CVE-2026-90493: Tonec Internet Download Manager privilege escalation in idmwfp.sys kernel driver

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-90493-tonec-internet-download-manager-privilege-escalation-in-idmwfp  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-13. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-90493 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-09-13

Internet Download Manager is a Windows download utility installed on millions of computers. The application includes a kernel driver (idmwfp.sys) that grants low-privileged local users direct access to read and modify system registry settings normally restricted to administrators. An attacker with basic user access can exploit this to gain administrator privileges, install persistent malware, or disable security controls.

Technologies: [Tonec Internet Download Manager](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/internet-download-manager). Vendors: [Tonec](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/tonec).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-90493 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-90493 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-90493?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 13 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Tonec Internet Download Manager up to 6.42 Build 63.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-90493?** 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-2026-90493 attacked?** It is attacked with local access or from the adjacent network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-90493?** Check whether you run Tonec Internet Download Manager 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 vulnerability is an improper access control flaw in the idmwfp.sys kernel driver installed by Internet Download Manager. The driver exposes the \.\IDMWFP device interface to all authenticated local users and implements IOCTL 0x12C028 handlers that accept registry-operation subcommands (0x0C–0x0F) without validating caller identity, caller registry permissions, or restricting operations to IDM-owned namespaces. A low-privileged local authenticated user can invoke these IOCTLs with arbitrary registry paths to read, create, modify, or delete registry values under HKLM and HKU, including settings consumed by privileged Windows services. The attack requires only local network or physical access and valid user credentials; no user interaction or elevation prompts are needed. Public proof-of-concept code is available, and patches have not been provided by the vendor.

## Affected products

- Tonec Internet Download Manager up to 6.42 Build 63

## Timeline

- 2026-09-13: disclosed
- other: Public proof-of-concept available; vendor non-responsive

## Related threats

- [Internet Download Manager buffer overflow in Scheduler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-37234-internet-download-manager-buffer-overflow-in-scheduler)
- [Tonec Internet Download Manager missing SSL certificate validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-56231-tonec-internet-download-manager-missing-ssl-certificate)