CVE-2023-1453Public exploit

Arbitrary file deletion via unchecked driver IOCTL

Published Mar 17, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper access control in Watchdog Anti-Virus 1.4.214.0 allows local users to delete arbitrary files through a driver IOCTL. The wsdk-driver.sys 0x80002008 handler converts an attacker-controlled path to a Unicode object name and passes it to DeleteFile without enforcing access checks. A normal local account can invoke the handler; deletion of protected files can damage system integrity or interrupt services.

CVSS severity4.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Watchdog Anti-Virus 1.4.214.0 allows local users to delete arbitrary files through a driver IOCTL. The wsdk-driver.sys 0x80002008 handler converts an attacker-controlled path to a Unicode object name and passes it to DeleteFile without enforcing access checks. A normal local account can invoke the handler; deletion of protected files can damage system integrity or interrupt services.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1453
Published
Mar 17, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Watchdog
Product
Watchdog Anti-Virus
Classifications
CWE-284, T1070.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1.4.214.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Watchdog · Watchdog Anti-Virusversion=1.4.214.0

Published CVSS scores

4.4VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
3.2VulDBAV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:P
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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 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-284Improper Access Control
T1070.004File Deletion

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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