Arbitrary file creation via installer symlink following
Published Dec 8, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Arbitrary file creation in Samsung Gear IconX PC Manager before 2.1.221019.51 allows local users to write files via symbolic links. The elevated Windows installer creates Gear IconX.lnk in a user-writable Quick Launch path without rejecting a link that redirects the write. Low-privileged access to that path permits overwriting a protected file, which can leave Windows unable to operate.
Summary
What happened
Arbitrary file creation in Samsung Gear IconX PC Manager before 2.1.221019.51 allows local users to write files via symbolic links. The elevated Windows installer creates Gear IconX.lnk in a user-writable Quick Launch path without rejecting a link that redirects the write. Low-privileged access to that path permits overwriting a protected file, which can leave Windows unable to operate.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-39909
- Published
- Dec 8, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Samsung Electronics
- Product
- Samsung Gear IconX PC Manager
- Classifications
- CWE-345
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 8, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 23, 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <2.1.221019.51
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2022-39909 Windows symbolic-link PoCproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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