// For flags

CVE-2024-13961

Avast Cleanup Premium TuneupSvc Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

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 TuneupSvc in Avast Cleanup Premium Version 24.2.16593.17810 on Windows 10 Pro x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via creating 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 Avast Cleanup Premium. 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 Avast Cleanup 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
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
  • 2025-05-09 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-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
  • CWE-367: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CAPEC
  • CAPEC-233: Privilege Escalation
  • CAPEC-549: Local Execution of Code
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Avast
Search vendor "Avast"
 CleanUp Premium
Search vendor "Avast" for product "CleanUp Premium"
 24.2.16593.17810
Search vendor "Avast" for product "CleanUp Premium" and version "24.2.16593.17810"
en
Affected