CVE-2023-28868Public exploit

Arbitrary file deletion via diagnostic-file symlink

Published Dec 9, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Link following in Support Assistant in NCP Secure Enterprise Client before 12.22 allows local users to delete arbitrary files via symbolic links. Support Assistant's privileged service deletes pre-existing diagnostic files in a user-controlled temporary directory without rejecting links to protected targets. A low-privileged user must collect diagnostics, replace services.txt with a symbolic link, and restart the feature; the target is then deleted with elevated rights.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.85%
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 Support Assistant in NCP Secure Enterprise Client before 12.22 allows local users to delete arbitrary files via symbolic links. Support Assistant's privileged service deletes pre-existing diagnostic files in a user-controlled temporary directory without rejecting links to protected targets. A low-privileged user must collect diagnostics, replace services.txt with a symbolic link, and restart the feature; the target is then deleted with elevated rights.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28868
Published
Dec 9, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-132, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-132Symlink Attack
T1485Data Destruction

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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