// For flags

CVE-2024-13944

Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in NortonUtilitiesSvc in Norton Utilities Ultimate (Also affects Avast CleanUp and AVG TuneUp)

Severity Score

7.8
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track*
*SSVC
Descriptions

Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in NortonUtilitiesSvc in Norton Utilities Ultimate Version 24.2.16862.6344 on Windows 10 Pro x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via the creation of a symbolic link and leveraging a TOCTTOU (time-of-check to time-of-use) attack.

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of AVG TuneUp for PC. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the AVG TuneUp Service. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the service to delete a directory. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM.

*Credits: Vladislav Berghici of Trend Micro Research, Zero Day Initiative,Vladislav Berghici of Trend Micro Research
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track*
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2025-05-06 CVE Reserved
  • 2025-05-09 CVE Published
  • 2025-06-10 EPSS Updated
  • 2025-07-29 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-367: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CAPEC
  • CAPEC-233: Privilege Escalation
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Norton
Search vendor "Norton"
 Norton Utilities Ultimate
Search vendor "Norton" for product "Norton Utilities Ultimate"
 <= 24.3.17165.6812
Search vendor "Norton" for product "Norton Utilities Ultimate" and version " <= 24.3.17165.6812"
en
Affected
Avast
Search vendor "Avast"
 CleanUp
Search vendor "Avast" for product "CleanUp"
 <= 24.3.17165.19178
Search vendor "Avast" for product "CleanUp" and version " <= 24.3.17165.19178"
en
Affected
AVG
Search vendor "AVG"
 TuneUp
Search vendor "AVG" for product "TuneUp"
 <= 24.3.17165.10564
Search vendor "AVG" for product "TuneUp" and version " <= 24.3.17165.10564"
en
Affected