Scan evasion and file deletion via process injection
Published Dec 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Incorrect default permissions in Avast Antivirus before 20.4 allow local users to evade scans or delete arbitrary system files. The aswEngSrv.exe sandbox process grants Everyone read-write access through its default DACL, allowing code injection that falsifies scan verdicts and makes the privileged AvastSvc.exe service delete attacker-selected files. A standard Windows user can reach the process; direct privilege escalation requires chaining this flaw with separate sandbox-escape vulnerabilities.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect default permissions in Avast Antivirus before 20.4 allow local users to evade scans or delete arbitrary system files. The aswEngSrv.exe sandbox process grants Everyone read-write access through its default DACL, allowing code injection that falsifies scan verdicts and makes the privileged AvastSvc.exe service delete attacker-selected files. A standard Windows user can reach the process; direct privilege escalation requires chaining this flaw with separate sandbox-escape vulnerabilities.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-45335
- Published
- Dec 27, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-276, T1687
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 27, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2021-45335 proof-of-concept source and demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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