CVE-2021-27241

Local directory deletion via directory junction

Published Mar 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper link resolution in Avast Premium Security 20.8.2429 (Build 20.8.5653.561) allows local users to delete arbitrary directories. The AvastSvc.exe service follows an attacker-created directory junction and performs deletion on the linked path instead of constraining access to the intended directory. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the Windows host and can interrupt service availability by deleting system or application directories.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Avast Premium Security 20.8.2429 (Build 20.8.5653.561) allows local users to delete arbitrary directories. The AvastSvc.exe service follows an attacker-created directory junction and performs deletion on the linked path instead of constraining access to the intended directory. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the Windows host and can interrupt service availability by deleting system or application directories.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27241
Published
Mar 29, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Avast
Product
Avast Premium Security
Classifications
CWE-59, T1070.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 29, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=20.8.2429 (Build 20.8.5653.561)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Avast · Avast Premium Securityversion=20.8.2429 (Build 20.8.5653.561)

Published CVSS scores

3.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
6.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1070.004File and Directory Deletion

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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