Kingsoft WPS Office promecefpluginhost.exe Improper Path Validation Remote Code Execution (CVE-2024-7262)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTKingsoft WPS Office on Windows, versions 12.2.0.13110 up to (but excluding) 12.2.0.16412
An attacker can achieve arbitrary Windows library (DLL) loading and remote code execution (RCE) by tricking a user into opening a specially crafted spreadsheet document
Immediately upgrade Kingsoft WPS Office to the patched version (12.2.0.16412 or higher) and restrict opening untrusted documents
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Download and install the latest secure version (12.2.0.16412 or later) from the official WPS Office website. You can use the following PowerShell commands to terminate active processes and prepare for the upgrade.
# Terminate active WPS Office processes to allow clean installation/update
$wpsProcesses = @('wps', 'wpp', 'et', 'promecefpluginhost')
foreach ($proc in $wpsProcesses) {
Stop-Process -Name $proc -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
Write-Host 'WPS Office processes terminated. Please run the official installer to upgrade to 12.2.0.16412 or higher.'2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict execution permissions on the vulnerable promecefpluginhost.exe binary using Windows Access Control Lists (ACLs).
# Restrict execution permissions on promecefpluginhost.exe using PowerShell
$targetFile = Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Kingsoft\WPS Office\*' -Filter 'promecefpluginhost.exe' -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
foreach ($file in $targetFile) {
$acl = Get-Acl -Path $file.FullName
$denyRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule('Everyone', 'ExecuteFile', 'Deny')
$acl.AddAccessRule($denyRule)
Set-Acl -Path $file.FullName -AclObject $acl
Write-Host 'Execution blocked for: ' $file.FullName
}3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Run the following script to audit endpoint systems and identify if any vulnerable versions of WPS Office are currently installed.
# Audit script to detect vulnerable WPS Office installations
$registryPaths = @(
'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*',
'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*'
)
Get-ItemProperty -Path $registryPaths -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like '*WPS Office*' } |
ForEach-Object {
$version = [version]$_.DisplayVersion
if ($version -ge [version]'12.2.0.13110' -and $version -lt [version]'12.2.0.16412') {
Write-Warning "VULNERABLE: $($_.DisplayName) version $version detected."
} else {
Write-Host "SECURE: $($_.DisplayName) version $version is safe."
}
}Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2024-7262) is an improper path validation issue (CWE-22) residing in promecefpluginhost.exe, a component of Kingsoft WPS Office for Windows. The application fails to properly sanitize and validate file paths passed to the plugin hosting process, allowing directory traversal sequences to point to arbitrary locations.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
The vulnerability has been observed weaponized in the wild as a highly effective 'single-click' exploit. Attackers distribute malicious spreadsheet files (.xls/.xlsx) designed to trigger the execution of promecefpluginhost.exe with manipulated parameters. When a victim opens the document, the application processes the embedded link or object, leading to the loading and execution of an arbitrary attacker-controlled DLL from a local or network share path.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
Given its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog, this vulnerability represents a severe threat vector actively exploited by advanced threat actors. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the security context of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise, lateral movement within the corporate network, and unauthorized data exfiltration.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Improper path validation in promecefpluginhost.exe in Kingsoft WPS Office version ranging from 12.2.0.13110 to 12.2.0.16412 (exclusive) on Windows allows an attacker to load an arbitrary Windows library. The vulnerability was found weaponized as a single-click exploit in the form of a deceptive spreadsheet document
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2024-7262)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2024-7262 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2024-7262 is rated CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 3.1%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2024-7262?
Primary impacted vendors include kingsoft across wps office. Scope summary: Kingsoft WPS Office for Windows from version 12.2.0.13110 up to 12.2.0.16412 (exclusive)
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2024-7262 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade Kingsoft WPS Office to the patched version (12.2.0.16412 or higher) and restrict opening untrusted documents Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2024-7262
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