The key takeaway: . Run accesschk.exe -c * | findstr "NSSM" across your Windows fleet. If you find NSSM 2.24, assume it is a potential backdoor. Harden it, replace it, or risk becoming the next case study in a privilege escalation report.
The following is for authorized security testing only. nssm-2.24 privilege escalation
: Ensure the directory containing nssm.exe is only writable by Administrators or the TrustedInstaller . The key takeaway:
: A program (like Apache CouchDB ) installs NSSM 2.24 into a directory where regular users have "Write" or "Modify" permissions. nssm-2.24 privilege escalation
: Vulnerable because files inherited parent directory permissions, allowing the substitution of nssm.exe .
Registry- or link-based redirection