: If the path to the NSSM executable contains spaces and is not enclosed in quotes, Windows may attempt to execute files at intercept points (e.g., C:\Program.exe instead of C:\Program Files\nssm.exe ).
Article last updated: May 2026 – reflects threat intelligence up to Q1 2026. nssm224 privilege escalation updated
Use the latest version of NSSM, which includes security improvements over older versions ("nssm224"). : If the path to the NSSM executable
Or look for services where ServiceDll or Application points to nssm.exe . validate in test environments.
Note: crafting service SDDL strings is error-prone; validate in test environments.