It took $58 to break Microsoft’s SCCM, but a patch made it harder
Researchers at XM Cyber found that a standard domain user with no Microsoft SCCM privileges can chain multiple flaws to reach remote code execution, although the attack does require network access to the SCCM environment. Enterprises use Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to deploy operating systems, manage patches, distribute software, and monitor compliance across large Windows fleets. XM Cyber’s attack can move from an ordinary domain account to code execution as “NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM” on the primary site server. “After the Site Server is compromised, all of its managed clients are compromised as well, which usually means taking over all the company assets,” XM Cyber’s Omri Baso told CSO. The revealed attack chain combines four weaknesses, including a broken authorization in the AdminService upload functionality, a path-traversal flaw dubbed “CabSlip,” weak code-signing validation that could be tricked with a $58 commercial certificate, and an unsigned DLL-loading path in the SMS Executive service. Microsoft fixed the initial authorization flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-47301, in July, but Baso said the remaining links in the chain are not expected to be fully addressed until ConfigMgr 2609, planned for October. The patch did not patch The initial foothold comes from SCCM’s AdminService API. Its normal extension-upload endpoint checks whether a user has the required permission, but its “chunked-upload” counterpart does not. That allows an authenticated Active Directory user to submit a malicious CAB archive without SCCM administrative privileges. Microsoft’s July fix blocks that route for standard domain users. However, the downstream chain remains reachable through another path. Users assigned the built-in Operations Administrator role, or a custom role with Create permission on “SMS_ConsoleExtensionData,” can still trigger the same sequence. But there is an important qualification here. XM Cyber said it believes organizations are unlikely to be expo CVEs: CVE-2026-47301. Vendors: Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Atlassian, GitHub. DORA relevance: high.