CVE-2016-20060 | Hotspotshield Hotspot Shield 6.0.3 Hshld Service unquoted search path (Exploit 40528 / EDB-40528)

VDB-355366 · CVE-2016-20060 · EXPLOIT 40528 HOTSPOTSHIELD HOTSPOT SHIELD 6.0.3 HSHLD SERVICE UNQUOTED SEARCH PATH HISTORYDIFFRELATEJSONXMLCTI CVSS Meta Temp Score Current Exploit Price (≈) CTI Interest Score 7.1 $0-$5k 1.52+ Summaryinfo A vulnerability was found in Hotspotshield Hotspot Shield 6.0.3 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Hshld Service. Executing a manipulation can lead to unquoted search path. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2016-20060. It is possible to launch the attack on the local host. Additionally, an exploit exists. Detailsinfo A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Hotspotshield Hotspot Shield 6.0.3. This vulnerability affects an unknown code of the component Hshld Service. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a unquoted search path vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-428. The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes: Hotspot Shield 6.0.3 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in the hshld service binary that allows local attackers to escalate privileges by injecting malicious executables. Attackers can place executable files in the service path and upon service restart or system reboot, the malicious code executes with LocalSystem privileges. The weakness was released by Amir.ght as 40528. The advisory is available at exploit-db.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2016-20060 since 04/04/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. This vulnerability is assigned to T1574.009 by the MITRE ATT&CK project. It is possible to download the exploit at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product. The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (40528) and EUVD (EUVD-2016-10869). Productinfo Vendor Hotspotshield Name Hotspot Shield Version 6.0.3 CPE 2.3info 🔒 CPE 2.2info 🔒 CVSSv4info VulDB Vector: 🔒 VulDB Reliability: 🔍 CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒 CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒 CNA Vector: 🔒 CVSSv3info VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.4 VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.1 VulDB Base Score: 7.0 VulDB Temp Score: 6.4 VulDB Vector: 🔒 VulDB Reliability: 🔍 CNA Base Score: 7.8 CNA Vector (VulnCheck): 🔒 CVSSv2info Vector Complexity Authentication Confidentiality Integrity Availability Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock VulDB Base Score: 🔒 VulDB Temp Score: 🔒 VulDB Reliability: 🔍 Exploitinginfo Class: Unquoted search path CWE: CWE-428 / CWE-426 CAPEC: 🔒 ATT&CK: 🔒 Physical: Partially Local: Yes Remote: No Availability: 🔒 Access: Public Status: Proof-of-Concept Download: 🔒 Price Prediction: 🔍 Current Price Estimation: 🔒 0-Day Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Today Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Exploit-DB: 🔒 Threat Intelligenceinfo Interest: 🔍 Active Actors: 🔍 Active APT Groups: 🔍 Countermeasuresinfo Recommended: no mitigation known Status: 🔍 0-Day Time: 🔒 Timelineinfo 04/04/2026 Advisory disclosed 04/04/2026 +0 days CVE reserved 04/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created 04/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update Sourcesinfo Advisory: 40528 Researcher: Amir.ght Status: Not defined CVE: CVE-2016-20060 (🔒) GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-20060 GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-355366 EUVD: 🔒 scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013 Entryinfo Created: 04/04/2026 19:47 Updated: 04/04/2026 22:24 Changes: 04/04/2026 19:47 (80), 04/04/2026 22:24 (1) Complete: 🔍 Cache ID: 99:C64:101 Discussion No comments yet. Languages: en. Please log in to comment. ◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸