CVE-2023-24579

Protection removal via command-prompt uninstall

Published Mar 13, 2023 · Updated Mar 3, 2025

Improper input validation in McAfee Total Protection before 16.0.51 allows context-dependent attackers to uninstall it via a command prompt. Published records do not identify the command-line handler or explain which untrusted argument or confirmation check is mishandled. Exploitation requires a victim to execute the command; successful exploitation removes endpoint protection and interrupts its security service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in McAfee Total Protection before 16.0.51 allows context-dependent attackers to uninstall it via a command prompt. Published records do not identify the command-line handler or explain which untrusted argument or confirmation check is mishandled. Exploitation requires a victim to execute the command; successful exploitation removes endpoint protection and interrupts its security service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-24579
Published
Mar 13, 2023
Updated
Mar 3, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, T1562.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1562.001Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo