CVE-2022-28964

Local antivirus termination via symbolic-link file write

Published May 20, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file write in Avast Premium Security before 21.11.2500 allows local users to interrupt service through a crafted DLL file. When malware detection is triggered, AvastSvc.exe creates a C-drive directory and database writable by Authenticated Users, enabling a symbolic link to redirect its privileged write. An unprivileged local user must supply the DLL and trigger detection; the redirected write can terminate Avast antivirus and deny service to the affected system.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file write in Avast Premium Security before 21.11.2500 allows local users to interrupt service through a crafted DLL file. When malware detection is triggered, AvastSvc.exe creates a C-drive directory and database writable by Authenticated Users, enabling a symbolic link to redirect its privileged write. An unprivileged local user must supply the DLL and trigger detection; the redirected write can terminate Avast antivirus and deny service to the affected system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-28964
Published
May 20, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-426, T1562.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 20, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:C
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1562.001Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools

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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