// For flags

CVE-2024-5102

Elevation of Privelage via symlinked file in Avast Antivirus

Severity Score

7.3
*CVSS v4

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track
*SSVC
Descriptions

A sym-linked file accessed via the repair function in Avast Antivirus <24.2 on Windows may allow user to elevate privilege to delete arbitrary files or run processes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The vulnerability exists within the "Repair" (settings -> troubleshooting -> repair) feature, which attempts to delete a file in the current user's AppData directory as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. A low-privileged user can make a pseudo-symlink and a junction folder and point to a file on the system. This can provide a low-privileged user an Elevation of Privilege to win a race-condition which will re-create the system files and make Windows callback to a specially-crafted file which could be used to launch a privileged shell instance. This issue affects Avast Antivirus prior to 24.2.

Un archivo con enlace simbólico al que se accede a través de la función de reparación en Avast Antivirus &lt;24.2 en Windows puede permitir al usuario elevar privilegios para eliminar archivos arbitrarios o ejecutar procesos como NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. La vulnerabilidad existe dentro de la función "Reparación" (configuración -&gt; solución de problemas -&gt; reparación), que intenta eliminar un archivo en el directorio AppData del usuario actual como NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. Un usuario con pocos privilegios puede crear un pseudoenlace simbólico y una carpeta de unión y apuntar a un archivo en el sistema. Esto puede proporcionar a un usuario con pocos privilegios una elevación de permisos para ganar una condición de ejecución que recreará los archivos del sistema y realizará una devolución de llamada de Windows a un archivo especialmente manipulado que podría usarse para iniciar una instancia de shell privilegiada. Este problema afecta a Avast Antivirus antes de la versión 24.2.

A sym-linked file accessed via the repair function in Avast Antivirus <24.2 on Windows may allow user to elevate privilege to delete arbitrary files or run processes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The vulnerability exists within the "Repair" (settings -> troubleshooting -> repair) feature, which attempts to delete a file in the current user's AppData directory as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. A low-privileged user can make a pseudo-symlink and a junction folder and point to a file on the system. This can provide a low-privileged user an Elevation of Privilege to win a race-condition which will re-create the system files and make Windows callback to a specially-crafted file which could be used to launch a privileged shell instance. This issue affects Avast Antivirus prior to 24.2.

*Credits: Naor Hodorov
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Attack Requirements
Present
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Active
System
Vulnerable | Subsequent
Confidentiality
High
High
Integrity
High
High
Availability
High
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Partial
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2024-05-18 CVE Reserved
  • 2024-06-10 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-01 CVE Updated
  • 2025-03-30 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
  • CWE-1284: Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input
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
Avast
Search vendor "Avast"
Antivirus
Search vendor "Avast" for product "Antivirus"
< 24.2
Search vendor "Avast" for product "Antivirus" and version " < 24.2"
-
Affected
in Microsoft
Search vendor "Microsoft"
Windows
Search vendor "Microsoft" for product "Windows"
--
Safe