CVE-2023-24904

Local file deletion via improper link resolution

Published May 9, 2023 · Updated Jul 10, 2025

Link-following in Windows Installer on affected Windows Server 2008 builds allows local users to delete targeted files with elevated privileges. Microsoft identifies improper link resolution before file access but has not disclosed the affected routine or exact link-processing sequence. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access, and the bounded result is deletion of attacker-selected files rather than arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.62%
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 Windows Installer on affected Windows Server 2008 builds allows local users to delete targeted files with elevated privileges. Microsoft identifies improper link resolution before file access but has not disclosed the affected routine or exact link-processing sequence. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access, and the bounded result is deletion of attacker-selected files rather than arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-24904
Published
May 9, 2023
Updated
Jul 10, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-17, CAPEC-132, CAPEC-76, CAPEC-35, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 10, 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=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26519

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26519
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.26519
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.22070
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.22070

Published CVSS scores

7.1MicrosoftCVSS: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.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-17Using Malicious Files
CAPEC-132Symlink Attack
CAPEC-76Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
CAPEC-35Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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

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Your stack

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