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Maono Link EUVDEUVD-2026-74191

| CVE-2026-77827 HIGH
Unquoted Search Path or Element (CWE-428)
2026-09-08 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725 GHSA-gx86-6f2h-rhf6
8.4
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Authenticate as local standard Windows user
  2. Delivery
    Identify C:\ProgramData\Maono is world-writable
  3. Exploit
    Plant malicious binary or DLL in service directory
  4. Execution
    Trigger or await MaonoAiServices restart
  5. Persist
    Service loads attacker-controlled payload
  6. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code at elevated service privilege

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V13 - Configuration Path quoting
Exploitation Conditions

Requires an existing local standard (non-admin) user account on a Windows system with Maono Link version prior to 4.0.80 installed and the MaonoAiServices service active. The core enabling condition is that C:\ProgramData\Maono grants write or modify permissions to standard user accounts - a non-default best-practice violation but present as shipped by the vendor. No network access is required; attack surface is limited to local interactive logon or Remote Desktop sessions. Exploitation also requires a service restart to load the planted payload, which may occur naturally on reboot or be induced by other means. The flaw does not affect systems where only a single admin account exists or where standard users have been explicitly denied write access to ProgramData subdirectories via group policy.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.4 (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N) accurately reflects a low-complexity local attack requiring only a standard user account and no user interaction, yielding high confidentiality and integrity impact. EPSS data is not provided in the source intelligence. There is no CISA KEV listing and no public exploit code identified - no public exploit identified at time of analysis. Real-world risk is meaningful on shared Windows workstations (kiosks, shared creative suites, VDI environments) where multiple user accounts exist and Maono audio hardware is in use, as the escalation path is technically straightforward once local access is established. The niche consumer/prosumer deployment footprint of this audio software significantly limits broad enterprise exposure compared to a similar flaw in a widely-deployed service.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A standard local user account on a shared Windows workstation with Maono Link installed identifies that C:\ProgramData\Maono is writable by their account. The attacker places a malicious DLL or executable matching the name of a component loaded by the MaonoAiServices service, then waits for or induces a service restart (e.g., system reboot or application update trigger), causing their payload to execute at the service's elevated privilege level. No public exploit code is known at time of analysis, but the technique is well-understood and requires no specialized tooling beyond standard Windows file-write operations.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 08, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Maono Link 3.8.13 on Windows enables any standard user account to gain elevated service-level privileges by writing a malicious payload to C:\ProgramData\Maono. The MaonoAiServices Windows service runs with elevated OS privileges while leaving its data directory writable by unprivileged local users - a classic insecure service directory permission pattern (CWE-428). Vendor patch 4.0.80 is available; no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Upgrade Maono Link to version 4.0.80 or later; this is a vendor-released patch per CSAF advisory VA-26-251-01. The update is available from the vendor at https://www.maono.com/products/maono-link-software. Until the patch is applied, administrators should restrict standard-user write access to C:\ProgramData\Maono using Windows ACLs - for example, running 'icacls C:\ProgramData\Maono /inheritance:r /grant:r SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F /grant:r Administrators:(OI)(CI)F' to remove inherited write permissions for Users - though this may break application update or logging functionality and should be tested before broad deployment. Additionally, monitoring for unexpected file creation events under C:\ProgramData\Maono via Windows Security Event ID 4663 or a file-integrity monitoring tool provides a detection-layer compensating control.

Affected VersionsENISA

Maono Link patch: 4.0.80
Maono Link 3.8.13 <4.0.80

Affected Packages

euvd maono_link fix: 4.0.80

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Maono Link is audio device management and AI-processing software distributed by Maono, a Chinese audio hardware manufacturer, for use with their USB microphones and interfaces. The MaonoAiServices Windows service component runs at an elevated integrity level (typically LocalSystem or a privileged service account). CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element) combined with world-writable permissions on C:\ProgramData\Maono creates a binary or DLL planting opportunity: Windows resolves service executable or library paths from the data directory at service startup, and because standard users can write there, they can substitute malicious content that the elevated service later executes. The affected CPE is not explicitly provided, but affected version is confirmed as Maono Link 3.8.13 and all releases below 4.0.80.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725) PRIMARY 8.4 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 8.4 HIGH

Local standard user writes to service directory (PR:L/AV:L/AC:L); scope changes to elevated service context (S:C) with full C:H/I:H; no availability impact described.

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

Primary rating from Vendor (9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725).

CVSS VectorVendor: 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Sep 08, 2026 - 21:35 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 08, 2026 - 21:18 cve.org
HIGH 8.4

DescriptionCVE.org

Maono Link 3.8.13 MaonoAiServices Windows service allows local privilege escalation for a standard user account via improper write privileges in 'C:\ProgramData\Maono'. Fixed in 4.0.80.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations running Maono Link 3.8.13 on Windows systems face a local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows standard user accounts to gain elevated service-level access-no public exploit identified at time of analysis. This creates a pathway for any compromised internal user account to escalate privileges and access sensitive system resources. A vendor patch is available and should be deployed immediately.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 94% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
niche consumer audio hardware companion software
Data Quality
4 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 0.2%
Patch available Yes
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· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

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

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

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