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Aura Wallpaper Service EUVDEUVD-2026-44586

| CVE-2026-8920 HIGH
Improper Restriction of Communication Channel to Intended Endpoints (CWE-923)
2026-07-15 ASUS GHSA-285c-cc6q-hwff
8.5
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: ASUS
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Authenticate as low-privileged local user
  2. Delivery
    Connect to Aura Wallpaper Service IPC channel
  3. Exploit
    Send crafted command with arbitrary file path
  4. Execution
    Bypass service path restrictions
  5. Persist
    Service performs privileged file operation
  6. Impact
    Read/overwrite protected files, impact system

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V12 - Secure Communication Improper restriction of communication channel
Exploitation Conditions

Requires local access to a machine running the ASUS Aura Wallpaper Service with an existing low-privilege account (PR:L) and the ability to reach the service's local IPC/command channel - there is no remote vector (AV:L) and no user interaction (UI:N). The concrete trigger is sending a crafted command to the service that contains an arbitrary file path which bypasses the service's path restrictions; the exploit is limited by high attack complexity (AC:H), meaning the path-restriction bypass is not trivially reliable, and by the requirement that the Aura Wallpaper Service actually be installed and running. On only specific ASUS models does the additional feature-unavailability effect occur, so that secondary impact is model-dependent rather than universal.

Impact

The signals are moderately consistent and point to a real but locally-scoped privilege/manipulation issue rather than a mass-exploitable remote flaw. The CVSS 4.0 vector CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N shows a local attack vector requiring existing low privileges and high attack complexity (the attacker must win the path-restriction bypass), but no user interaction and high impact to confidentiality, integrity and availability, plus a confidentiality impact on a subsequent system component - hence the 8.5 High score. There is no EPSS value supplied, so exploitation probability cannot be quantified from this data. The vulnerability is not in CISA KEV (no confirmed active exploitation) and no POC is referenced, so it is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' The Tags include 'Authentication Bypass,' which aligns with CWE-923's endpoint-restriction failure and is the practical mechanism (a caller who should not be trusted is served). Net: a genuine local privilege-abuse issue worth patching on ASUS endpoints, but not an internet-facing emergency; prioritize based on how many managed ASUS devices are in scope. Note the AC:H rating: the path-restriction bypass may be non-trivial, which lowers realistic exploitability somewhat.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A low-privileged user (or malware already running in that user's context) on an ASUS machine connects to the Aura Wallpaper Service's local command channel and issues a crafted command embedding an arbitrary file path that escapes the service's intended directory. The service, running with higher privilege, performs the requested file operation at the attacker-chosen location, letting the attacker read protected data or write/overwrite files to escalate privilege or corrupt state. No public POC is referenced, and the high attack complexity means the path-bypass step must be crafted successfully.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 15, 2026

Arbitrary file operations in ASUS Aura Wallpaper Service allow a low-privileged local user to send crafted commands that carry an attacker-controlled file path, bypassing the service's intended path restrictions and abusing its higher-privileged context. Because the service exposes a communication channel that fails to properly restrict callers or validate file names (CWE-923), a local user can read, write, or manipulate files outside the intended scope, with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability; on certain ASUS models exploitation can also render a single feature unavailable. No public exploit is identified at time of analysis, and it is not listed in CISA KEV, but the CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.5 (High) reflects meaningful impact despite the local vector and high attack complexity.

RemediationAI

Apply ASUS's update for the Aura Wallpaper Service as described in the 'Security Update for Aura Wallpaper Service' section of the ASUS Security Advisory (https://www.asus.com/security-advisory/); the input does not include an exact fixed version, so treat patch status as 'Patch available per vendor advisory' and confirm the specific build number against the advisory before deploying. As compensating controls where immediate patching is not possible: uninstall or stop and disable the Aura Wallpaper Service if the dynamic wallpaper feature is not required (trade-off: loss of Aura wallpaper functionality); restrict local interactive/logon access on affected endpoints so untrusted low-privileged users cannot reach the local IPC channel (trade-off: does not help on single-user machines where the user is the threat); and monitor for anomalous file writes performed by the service process outside its expected wallpaper/config directories. Because exploitation requires local access, endpoint hardening and limiting who can log on locally meaningfully reduce exposure until the patch is applied.

Affected VersionsENISA

Aura Wallpaper Service v2.1.8.0 ≤v2.1.15.0

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Technical ContextAI · show details

The affected component is the ASUS Aura Wallpaper Service, a Windows background service that ships as part of ASUS Aura ecosystem software on ASUS PCs and laptops to manage dynamic/lighting-integrated wallpaper features. The root cause is CWE-923 (Improper Restriction of Communication Channel to Intended Endpoints), compounded by external control of file name or path (a path-traversal/injection class weakness). Local clients communicate with the privileged service over an IPC channel (such as a named pipe or local socket) that does not adequately authenticate or authorize the calling endpoint, and the service trusts a file path supplied inside the command without canonicalizing or confining it to an allowed directory. As a result the service performs file operations on behalf of the caller at a location the caller chooses, effectively lending its own privilege level to an unprivileged requester. The CPE cpe:2.3:a:asus:aura_wallpaper_service:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* identifies the affected application but does not bound the fixed version.

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Severity by source

Vendor (ASUS) PRIMARY 8.5 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 7.8 HIGH

Local IPC exploitation by an existing low-priv user gives AV:L/PR:L; the path-bypass makes AC:H; the privileged service acting on attacker files crosses a trust boundary (S:C) with full C/I/A impact.

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (ASUS).

CVSS VectorVendor: ASUS

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
High
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper Restriction of Communication Channel to Intended Endpoints and External Control of File Name or Path in Aura Wallpaper Service allow a local user to perform file operations by sending crafted commands containing an arbitrary file path and bypassing the service’s path restrictions . On specific models , this can also cause a single feature to become unavailable . Refer to the ' Security Update for Aura Wallpaper Service ' section on the ASUS Security Advisory for more information.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability in ASUS Aura Wallpaper Service allows local users with low privileges to bypass file path restrictions and perform unauthorized file operations with the service's elevated privileges. Organizations with ASUS systems could experience data exfiltration, system integrity compromise, or feature availability impact if local user accounts are compromised or untrustworthy.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: (1) Disable ASUS Aura Wallpaper Service if not required for business operations; (2) Restrict local user account privileges and enforce file-level access controls on sensitive system files; (3) Deploy file integrity monitoring and file access logging on systems running the service; (4) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) with behavioral monitoring for suspicious file operations by the service process; (5) Monitor ASUS security advisories daily for patch releases.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 99% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
bundled with ASUS Aura software on common consumer/gaming ASUS PCs
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

42
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +42
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

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