Local SYSTEM escalation via junction-based file move
Published Sep 27, 2022 · Updated May 22, 2025
Privilege escalation in Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security before 15.8.211.19229 allows local users to gain SYSTEM access. Weak permissions on the %PROGRAMDATA%\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\Data\Updates directory combine with a self-protection driver bypass to permit a junction and an arbitrary file move as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows host is required, after which protected files can be moved with SYSTEM authority.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security before 15.8.211.19229 allows local users to gain SYSTEM access. Weak permissions on the %PROGRAMDATA%\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\Data\Updates directory combine with a self-protection driver bypass to permit a junction and an arbitrary file move as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows host is required, after which protected files can be moved with SYSTEM authority.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-41604
- Published
- Sep 27, 2022
- Updated
- May 22, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-269, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 27, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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
- ZoneAlarmEoP arbitrary file move exploitproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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