What is CVE-2020-36979?

CVE-2020-36979 is a high-severity vulnerability in Atheros Coex Service Application, classified under Unquoted Search Path or Element. CVSS score: 7.8/10. Published 2026-01-27.

How severe is CVE-2020-36979?

High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.

Vulnerability in Atheros Coex Service Application

CVE-2020-36979

Atheros Coex Service Application 8.0.0.255 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability in its Windows service configuration. Attackers can exploit the unquoted path by placing malicious executables in the service path to gain elevated system privileges during service startup.

Published 2026-01-27 · last modified 2026-06-17.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.002 (7.6th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 8th percentile — 7.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.002 · newest: 0.002 · change: +0.000

Affected products

Atheros Coex Service Application — versions 8.0.0.255

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-428 — Unquoted Search Path or Element

References

www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49053 (exploit)
www.file.net/process/ath_coexagent.exe.html (product)
www.boostbyreason.com/resource-file-9102-ath_coexagent-exe.aspx (product)
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/atheros-coex-service-application-zatheros-btwlan-c… (third-party-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-36979?: CVE-2020-36979 is a high-severity vulnerability in Atheros Coex Service Application, classified under Unquoted Search Path or Element. CVSS score: 7.8/10. Published 2026-01-27.
How severe is CVE-2020-36979?: High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.