CVE-2022-30523

SYSTEM code execution via symlink-assisted file deletion

Published May 16, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Link-following in Trend Micro Password Manager 5.0.0.1266 and earlier allows local users to escalate privileges through its service. The Password Manager Service follows an attacker-created symbolic link when deleting a file, causing the SYSTEM process to delete an attacker-selected path. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows host is required, after which the deletion primitive enables arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in Trend Micro Password Manager 5.0.0.1266 and earlier allows local users to escalate privileges through its service. The Password Manager Service follows an attacker-created symbolic link when deleting a file, causing the SYSTEM process to delete an attacker-selected path. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows host is required, after which the deletion primitive enables arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-30523
Published
May 16, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Password Manager
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 16, 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=5.0.0.1266 and below

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Password Managerversion=5.0.0.1266 and below

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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')
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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