CVE-2022-23743

LocalSystem code execution via weak update-directory permissions

Published May 11, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Privilege escalation in ZoneAlarm Extreme Security before 15.8.211.192119 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem. Weak permissions on the ProgramData\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\Data\Updates directory let local users write arbitrary files that the update process handles with SYSTEM authority. The attacker must already have local access; successful exploitation turns that foothold into SYSTEM-level control of the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in ZoneAlarm Extreme Security before 15.8.211.192119 allows local users to execute code as LocalSystem. Weak permissions on the ProgramData\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\Data\Updates directory let local users write arbitrary files that the update process handles with SYSTEM authority. The attacker must already have local access; successful exploitation turns that foothold into SYSTEM-level control of the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-23743
Published
May 11, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Product
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security
Classifications
CWE-732, CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2022CVE 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=before v15.8.211.192119

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. · ZoneAlarm Extreme Securityversion=before v15.8.211.192119

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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