8.5
HIGH CVSS 4.0
CVE-2026-7373
Metasploit Pro on Windows: Local Privilege Escalation via OpenSSL Configuration File Loading
Description

Rapid7 Metasploit Pro is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation attack that allows users to gain SYSTEM level control of a Windows host. Upon startup the metasploitPostgreSQL service the subsequent postgres.exe service attempts to load an OpenSSL configuration file from a non-existent directory that is writable by standard users. By planting a crafted openssl.cnf file an attacker can trick the high-privilege service into executing arbitrary commands. This effectively permits an unprivileged user to bypass security controls and achieve a full host compromise under the agent's SYSTEM level access.

INFO

Published Date :

May 15, 2026, 3:16 a.m.

Last Modified :

May 15, 2026, 3:16 a.m.

Remotely Exploit :

No
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-7373 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

No affected product recoded yet

CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 4.0 HIGH 9974b330-7714-4307-a722-5648477acda7
CVSS 4.0 HIGH [email protected]
Solution
Ensure the metasploitPostgreSQL service configuration restricts access to sensitive files.
  • Configure file permissions for OpenSSL configuration.
  • Restrict write access to the OpenSSL configuration directory.
  • Ensure services load configuration from trusted locations.
  • Update software to the latest version.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2026-7373.

URL Resource
https://docs.rapid7.com/insight/metasploit-pro-release-notes/
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-7373 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-7373 weaknesses.

CAPEC-19: Embedding Scripts within Scripts Embedding Scripts within Scripts CAPEC-441: Malicious Logic Insertion Malicious Logic Insertion CAPEC-478: Modification of Windows Service Configuration Modification of Windows Service Configuration CAPEC-479: Malicious Root Certificate Malicious Root Certificate CAPEC-502: Intent Spoof Intent Spoof CAPEC-503: WebView Exposure WebView Exposure CAPEC-536: Data Injected During Configuration Data Injected During Configuration CAPEC-546: Incomplete Data Deletion in a Multi-Tenant Environment Incomplete Data Deletion in a Multi-Tenant Environment CAPEC-550: Install New Service Install New Service CAPEC-551: Modify Existing Service Modify Existing Service CAPEC-552: Install Rootkit Install Rootkit CAPEC-556: Replace File Extension Handlers Replace File Extension Handlers CAPEC-558: Replace Trusted Executable Replace Trusted Executable CAPEC-562: Modify Shared File Modify Shared File CAPEC-563: Add Malicious File to Shared Webroot Add Malicious File to Shared Webroot CAPEC-564: Run Software at Logon Run Software at Logon CAPEC-578: Disable Security Software Disable Security Software CAPEC-38: Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths CAPEC-471: Search Order Hijacking Search Order Hijacking CAPEC-175: Code Inclusion Code Inclusion CAPEC-201: Serialized Data External Linking Serialized Data External Linking CAPEC-228: DTD Injection DTD Injection CAPEC-251: Local Code Inclusion Local Code Inclusion CAPEC-252: PHP Local File Inclusion PHP Local File Inclusion CAPEC-253: Remote Code Inclusion Remote Code Inclusion CAPEC-263: Force Use of Corrupted Files Force Use of Corrupted Files CAPEC-538: Open-Source Library Manipulation Open-Source Library Manipulation CAPEC-549: Local Execution of Code Local Execution of Code CAPEC-640: Inclusion of Code in Existing Process Inclusion of Code in Existing Process CAPEC-660: Root/Jailbreak Detection Evasion via Hooking Root/Jailbreak Detection Evasion via Hooking CAPEC-695: Repo Jacking Repo Jacking CAPEC-698: Install Malicious Extension Install Malicious Extension

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-7373 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-7373 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    May. 15, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description Rapid7 Metasploit Pro is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation attack that allows users to gain SYSTEM level control of a Windows host. Upon startup the metasploitPostgreSQL service the subsequent postgres.exe service attempts to load an OpenSSL configuration file from a non-existent directory that is writable by standard users. By planting a crafted openssl.cnf file an attacker can trick the high-privilege service into executing arbitrary commands. This effectively permits an unprivileged user to bypass security controls and achieve a full host compromise under the agent's SYSTEM level access.
    Added CVSS V4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
    Added CWE CWE-284
    Added CWE CWE-427
    Added CWE CWE-829
    Added Reference https://docs.rapid7.com/insight/metasploit-pro-release-notes/
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.