CVE-2020-14990Public exploit

Arbitrary file deletion via link replacement

Published Jun 22, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Arbitrary file deletion in IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 13.5.0.263 allows local users to delete protected files through Clean & Optimize. During a Clean & Optimize scan, the feature creates a temporary file and later deletes it without preventing link replacement; an attacker swaps it for an NTFS junction and Object Manager symbolic link that redirects deletion to an arbitrary target. Local users must win the roughly one-second replacement window, after which deletion of a protected system file can damage integrity or interrupt the host.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file deletion in IObit Advanced SystemCare Free 13.5.0.263 allows local users to delete protected files through Clean & Optimize. During a Clean & Optimize scan, the feature creates a temporary file and later deletes it without preventing link replacement; an attacker swaps it for an NTFS junction and Object Manager symbolic link that redirects deletion to an arbitrary target. Local users must win the roughly one-second replacement window, after which deletion of a protected system file can damage integrity or interrupt the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14990
Published
Jun 22, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 22, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
3.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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