CVE-2022-38611Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via DLL hijacking

Published Sep 16, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Incorrect access control in Watchdog Anti-Virus v1.4.158 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted binary. The installation directory and WAV.exe permit BUILTIN Users to modify ACLs and replace executable libraries, enabling a malicious hostfxr.dll or similar DLL to load when the application starts. Exploitation requires local access and launching Watchdog Anti-Virus; execution occurs in the current user's context without elevation, so privilege escalation is not established.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect access control in Watchdog Anti-Virus v1.4.158 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted binary. The installation directory and WAV.exe permit BUILTIN Users to modify ACLs and replace executable libraries, enabling a malicious hostfxr.dll or similar DLL to load when the application starts. Exploitation requires local access and launching Watchdog Anti-Virus; execution occurs in the current user's context without elevation, so privilege escalation is not established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38611
Published
Sep 16, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1574.002Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading

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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