CVE-2022-38699

System disruption via symlink-following log overwrite

Published Sep 28, 2022 · Updated May 21, 2025

Link-following in ASUS Armoury Crate Service 5.1.5.0 allows physically proximate attackers with user access to overwrite system files. The service's logging function fails to verify that its configured log file is not a symbolic link before writing, so a link can redirect log output to an arbitrary system file. Physical access and general user privileges are required; overwriting a critical file can disrupt the system.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.32%
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 ASUS Armoury Crate Service 5.1.5.0 allows physically proximate attackers with user access to overwrite system files. The service's logging function fails to verify that its configured log file is not a symbolic link before writing, so a link can redirect log output to an arbitrary system file. Physical access and general user privileges are required; overwriting a critical file can disrupt the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38699
Published
Sep 28, 2022
Updated
May 21, 2025
Vendor
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Product
Armoury Crate Service
Classifications
CWE-59, T1485
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 28, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 21, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.1.5.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. · Armoury Crate Serviceversion=5.1.5.0

Published CVSS scores

5.9TWCERT/CCCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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