# CVE-2026-8398: Daemon Tools Lite Embedded Malicious Code Vulnerability

Status: published. Published: 2026-05-15. Updated: 2026-11-11.

A supply chain attack compromised the official installation packages of DAEMON Tools Lite (Windows versions 12.5.0.2421 through 12.5.0.2434), distributed from the legitimate website daemon-tools.cc between approximately April 8, 2026, and May 5, 2026. Attackers gained unauthorized access to the vendor's (AVB Disc Soft) build or distribution infrastructure and trojanized three binaries: DTHelper.exe, DiscSoftBusServiceLite.exe, and DTShellHlp.exe. These files were digitally signed with the legitimate AVB Disc Soft code-signing certificate, allowing the malicious installers to appear trustworthy and bypass signature-based detection.

## Remediation

- fix: Users of potentially infected application are recommended to uninstall the application, run a full system scan using antivirus software with the latest version of the anti-virus databases, and install the latest version of DAEMON Tools Lite (12.6 or newer) from the official website. (source: CNA: Kaspersky)

## Affected products and versions

- AVB Disc Soft / DAEMON Tools Lite: ≥ 12.5.0.2421; < 12.6.0.* (affected, semver). Source: CNA: Kaspersky; platforms: Windows

## NVD configuration conditions

Affected CPE matches depend on the following AND/OR and negation conditions:

```json
[
  {
    "negate": false,
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:disc-soft:daemon_tools:12.5.1:*:*:*:lite:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      },
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": false
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ],
    "operator": "AND"
  }
]
```

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 4.0: 9.3 (critical); CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N; source: CNA: Kaspersky

- CVSS 3.1: 9.8 (critical); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: CNA: Kaspersky

- CVSS 4.0: 9.3 (critical); CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/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; source: NVD: vulnerability@kaspersky.com

- CVSS 3.1: 9.8 (critical); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: NVD: vulnerability@kaspersky.com

- CISA KEV: listed; Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.; due 2026-05-30

- EPSS: 1.46% as of 2026-11-10; percentile 73.71%

- SSVC: exploitation active; automatable yes; technical impact total; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-506

## Exploit evidence

- exploit: https://securelist.com/tr/daemon-tools-backdoor/119654/ (vulnerability@kaspersky.com)

## References

- https://securelist.com/tr/daemon-tools-backdoor/119654/ (CNA: Kaspersky; technical-description, third-party-advisory)

- https://blog.daemon-tools.cc/post/security-incident (CNA: Kaspersky; vendor-advisory)

- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-8398 (ADP: CISA-ADP; government-resource)

- https://blog.daemon-tools.cc/post/security-incident (vulnerability@kaspersky.com; Vendor Advisory)

- https://securelist.com/tr/daemon-tools-backdoor/119654/ (vulnerability@kaspersky.com; Exploit, Third Party Advisory)

- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-8398 (134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0; US Government Resource)

## Provenance

- CNA: Kaspersky: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-8398; retrieved 2026-11-11; source updated 2026-11-11

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-8398; retrieved 2026-11-11; source updated 2026-11-11

- CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated Not reported

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-8398; retrieved 2026-11-11; source updated Not reported

Revision: 08536fb5d067ad9b9dc882fb3b3d96d9db08f0e7fb9271d601f8f89f39a4bfb4

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-8398

## Agent and API access

Public CVE pages, Markdown, and JSON are free to read without an account or API key.

- Public catalog: https://y2.dev/cve/index.json. Follow nextCursor with the same search, filters, sort, and limit (1–100). A null cursor marks the end.

- WebMCP: search_cve_disclosures, get_cve_disclosure, get_cve_page_markdown, get_y2_cve_access. Available in compatible browsers.

- Cyber API: https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves and https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves/{cveId}.

- Y2 Pro or Elite: create a workspace API key with the intel:cyber scope and send Authorization: Bearer <Y2_API_KEY>. Setup: https://y2.dev/docs/api/create-key.

- x402: Pay per request without an account or API key. Omit Authorization, read the HTTP 402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED challenge, validate its current requirements, and retry with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE through an authorized payment client. These browser tools never make payments. Guide: https://y2.dev/docs/api/x402.

- OpenAPI: https://y2.dev/api/openapi.yaml. Agent access metadata: https://y2.dev/cve/agent.json.

Collected public records only. Check source status for coverage and freshness.