CVE-2022-36438Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via unchecked symbolic links

Published Oct 18, 2022 · Updated May 13, 2025

Local privilege escalation in AsusSwitch.exe before 1.0.10.0 allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges through the backup service. The SYSTEM-level service follows attacker-created links from its user-writable progress folder, then grants Everyone full control or deletes the linked target without validating the resolved object. ASUS System Control Interface 3 before 3.1.5.0 is affected when a logged-in non-administrator starts MyASUS Switch & Recovery with an empty progress folder; the user can replace a privileged DLL for SYSTEM execution or delete an arbitrary protected file.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in AsusSwitch.exe before 1.0.10.0 allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges through the backup service. The SYSTEM-level service follows attacker-created links from its user-writable progress folder, then grants Everyone full control or deletes the linked target without validating the resolved object. ASUS System Control Interface 3 before 3.1.5.0 is affected when a logged-in non-administrator starts MyASUS Switch & Recovery with an empty progress folder; the user can replace a privileged DLL for SYSTEM execution or delete an arbitrary protected file.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-36438
Published
Oct 18, 2022
Updated
May 13, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-276, CAPEC-1, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 13, 2025Record 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
CAPEC-1Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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